FAIR Crash Tests Act

To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study on the processes used by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for studying and deploying crash test dummies, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Furthering Advanced and Inclusive Research for Crash Tests Act FAIR Crash Tests Act 2. GAO report on crash dummies (a) In general Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study and submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report that— (1) examines— (A) the processes used by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (referred to in this section as the Administration (B) (i) the types of crash test dummies used by the Administration as of the date of enactment of this Act; (ii) the seating positions in which those crash test dummies are tested; and (iii) whether the seating position affects disparities in motor vehicle safety outcomes based on demographic characteristics, including sex, and, if so, how the seating position affects those disparities; (C) the biofidelic crash test dummies that are available in the global and domestic marketplace that reflect the physical and demographic characteristics of the driving public in the United States, including— (i) females; (ii) the elderly; (iii) young adults; (iv) children; and (v) individuals of differing body weights; (D) how the Administration determines whether to study and deploy new biofidelic crash test dummies, including the biofidelic crash test dummies examined under subparagraph (C), and the timelines by which the Administration conducts the work of making those determinations and studying and deploying new biofidelic crash test dummies; (E) challenges the Administration faces in studying and deploying new crash test dummies; and (F) how the practices of the Administration with respect to crash test dummies compare to other programs that test vehicles and report results to the public, including the European New Car Assessment Programme; (2) evaluates potential improvements to the processes described in paragraph (1) that could reduce disparities in motor vehicle safety outcomes based on demographic characteristics, including sex; (3) analyzes the potential use of computer simulation techniques, as a supplement to physical crash tests, to conduct virtual simulations of vehicle crash tests in order to evaluate predicted motor vehicle safety outcomes based on the different physical and demographic characteristics of motor vehicle occupants; and (4) includes, as applicable, any assessments or recommendations relating to crash test dummies that are relevant to reducing disparities in motor vehicle safety outcomes based on demographic characteristics, including sex. (b) Interim report from the Administration Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Administration shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report that— (1) identifies— (A) the types of crash test dummies used by the Administration as of the date of enactment of this Act with respect to— (i) the New Car Assessment Program of the Administration; and (ii) testing relating to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; (B) how each type of crash test dummy identified under subparagraph (A) is tested with respect to seating position; and (C) any crash test dummies that the Administration is actively evaluating for future use— (i) in the New Car Assessment Program of the Administration; or (ii) for testing relating to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; (2) explains— (A) the plans of the Administration, including the expected timelines, for putting any crash test dummies identified under paragraph (1)(C) to use as described in that paragraph; (B) any challenges to putting those crash test dummies to use; and (C) the potential use of computer simulation techniques, as a supplement to physical crash tests, to conduct virtual simulations of vehicle crash tests in order to evaluate predicted motor vehicle safety outcomes based on the different physical and demographic characteristics of motor vehicle occupants; and (3) provides policy recommendations for reducing disparities in motor vehicle safety testing and outcomes based on demographic characteristics, including sex.

Summary: Furthering Advanced and Inclusive Research for Crash Tests Act or the FAIR Crash Tests Act This bill requires the Government Accountability Office to report on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's use of crash test dummies, including how the administration's practices compare to the European New Car Assessment Programme and other programs that test vehicles.