New Crash Test Dummy Is a 3-Year Old

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has a new crash test dummy. Known as the Q3s, the new crash test dummy represents a 3-year-old child and is the first child side impact dummy in federal regulations.

Q3 was specifically designed for testing child seats in side impact crash tests, according to NHTSA, and will provide more realistic data about the effect side impact crashes have on children.

NHTSA is also proposing numerous upgrades to federal standard for frontal impact tests for child restraint systems to make testing more representative of real-world child seat use in modern vehicles, including proposing to require that labels on child seats encourage that young children remain in rear-facing child seats until they outgrow the rear-facing height and weight limits of the seat.

Another NHTSA proposed rule seeks to provided flexibilities for child seat labeling requirements that could better inform the public on the correct use of child restraint systems and allowing additional means for parents and caregivers to register their child seats to receive recall information.

“Every child’s life is precious, and the Department’s work will save young lives,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao.

The announcements came during Child Passenger Safety Week, September 20-26, 2020.