She Develops Regulations In Vehicle Equality and Safety Act; She DRIVES Act
Summary
The "She Develops Regulations In Vehicle Equality and Safety Act" (She DRIVES Act) aims to improve vehicle safety standards by updating testing procedures under the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). The bill mandates the use of both 50th percentile adult male and 5th percentile adult female Test Device for Human Occupant Restraint (THOR) frontal impact testing devices. It also includes Worldwide Harmonized Side Impact Dummy testing devices for both male and female occupants.
Expected Effects
The Act will lead to revised Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) to include updated crash test dummies that better represent the diversity of the population. This will likely result in safer vehicles, particularly for female occupants, as manufacturers adapt to meet the new testing criteria. The Act also requires reports on the incorporation of more advanced testing devices and comparison with international standards.
Potential Benefits
- Improved Safety Standards: Updates to testing procedures will lead to more robust safety standards.
- Better Representation in Testing: Inclusion of female crash test dummies ensures vehicles are designed to protect a wider range of occupants.
- Increased Crashworthiness: The Act mandates updates to frontal and side impact tests, enhancing overall vehicle crashworthiness.
- Transparency and Oversight: Reporting requirements ensure ongoing evaluation and improvement of testing devices.
- Alignment with International Standards: The Act promotes consideration of advanced testing devices used in other countries.
Potential Disadvantages
- Increased Costs for Manufacturers: Implementing new testing procedures and redesigning vehicles may increase manufacturing costs.
- Potential for Implementation Delays: The Secretary of Transportation may face challenges in meeting the mandated deadlines for rulemaking and updates.
- Complexity of New Standards: The updated injury criteria and testing requirements may add complexity to vehicle design and testing processes.
- Uncertainty in Long-Term Effectiveness: The actual impact on real-world safety outcomes will depend on the effectiveness of the new testing devices and procedures.
- Possible unintended consequences: Manufacturers may focus on test results rather than real world safety.
Constitutional Alignment
The She DRIVES Act aligns with the Constitution's broad mandate to "promote the general Welfare" (Preamble). Congress has the power to regulate interstate commerce (Article I, Section 8), which includes setting safety standards for vehicles sold across state lines. The Act delegates specific rulemaking authority to the Secretary of Transportation, which is permissible as long as Congress provides clear standards and guidelines, as it does in this bill.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).