United States Department of TransportationNHTSA’s Crash Test Dummies
Meet NHTSA’s family of crash test dummies currently in service. The diverse group of dummies helps us understand and measure the human body’s movement during a crash, and see how it fares with various vehicle safety features.
A lot of research goes into these dummies before they are put into use. Each of us differs in size and weight, so each crash test dummy is designed differently too. NHTSA’s family of dummies representation ranges from newborn infant to 6-year-old children to small females and average males. We're always looking to enhance their abilities, and in recent years advanced biomechanics research and measurement technologies have helped to improve crash dummy development.
What we learn from these dummies in our comprehensive crash tests helps to improve vehicle safety — saving more lives.
50th Percentile Adult Male
Hybrid III
5’ 9” - height represented
171 lbs - actual weight
Front Impact | Driver | NCAP |
Front Impact | Driver | FMVSS No. 208 |
Front Impact | Front Passenger | FMVSS No. 208 |
Rear Impact | Head Restraints* | Various | FMVSS No. 202a |
50th Percentile Adult Male
ES-2re
5’ 9” - height represented
160 lbs - actual weight
Side Impact | Driver | NCAP |
Side Impact | Driver | FMVSS No. 214 |
Side Impact | Front Passenger | FMVSS No. 214 |
5th Percentile Adult Female
Hybrid III
4’ 11” - height represented
108 lbs - actual weight
Front Impact | Front Passenger | NCAP |
Front Impact | Driver | FMVSS No. 208 |
Front Impact | Front Passenger | FMVSS No. 208 |
Front Air Bag Risk Assessment** | Driver | FMVSS No. 208 |
Front Air Bag Risk Assessment*** | Front Passenger | FMVSS No. 208 |
Small Adult Female
SID-IIsD
4’ 11” - height represented
97 lbs - actual weight
Side Impact | Driver | NCAP |
Side Impact | Rear Driver Side | NCAP |
Side Air Bag Risk Assessment | Front Passenger | NCAP |
Side Air Bag Risk Assessment | Rear Passenger Side | NCAP |
Side Impact | Driver | FMVSS No. 214 |
Side Impact | Front Passenger | FMVSS No. 214 |
Side Impact | Rear Driver Side | FMVSS No. 214 |
Side Impact | Rear Passenger Side | FMVSS No. 214 |
10-Year-Old Child
Hybrid III
4’ 8” - height represented
78 lbs - actual weight
Frontal Sled Test | | Various | FMVSS No. 213 |
6–Year-Old Child
Hybrid III
3’ 11” - height represented
52 lbs - actual weight
Side Air Bag Risk Assessment | Front Passenger | NCAP |
Side Air Bag Risk Assessment | Rear Passenger Side | NCAP |
Front Air Bag Risk Assessment** | Front Passenger | FMVSS No. 208 |
Frontal Sled Test | | Various | FMVSS No. 213 |
6-Year-Old Weighted Child
Hybrid III
62 lbs - actual weight
Frontal Sled Test | | Various | FMVSS No. 213 |
3-Year-Old Child
Hybrid III
3’ 1” - height represented
36 lbs - actual weight
Side Air Bag Risk Assessment | Front Passenger | NCAP |
Side Air Bag Risk Assessment | Rear Passenger Side | NCAP |
Front Air Bag Risk Assessment** | Front Passenger | FMVSS No. 208 |
Frontal Sled Test | | Various | FMVSS No. 213 |
12-Month-Old Infant
CRABI
22 lbs - actual weight
Front Air Bag Risk Assessment** | Car Seat in | FMVSS No. 208 |
Frontal Sled Test | Child Car Seat | Various | FMVSS No. 213 |
Newborn Infant
CAMI
7.6 lbs - actual weight
Front Air Bag Risk Assessment*** | Child Seated in a | FMVSS No. 208 |
Frontal Sled Test | Child Car Seat | Various | FMVSS No. 213 |
*Low speed rear impact test. Crash test dummy is an optional test device. |
**Low risk deployment/air bag suppression test |
***Air bag suppression/reactivation |
When people think of crash test dummies, they often associate it with: "You Could Learn a Lot From a Dummy.” This famous tagline was the foundation of a popular NHTSA safety campaign urging people to wear their seat belts. Vince and Larry, the loveable crash test dummies, encouraged seat belt use through TV, print, and radio ads. Vince and Larry have been inducted into the Smithsonian Institution's Museum of American History as part of an exhibit on the evolution of automobile safety – along with authentic crash test dummies.
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings