Senior citizens form an age group still having one of the highest risks of suffering severe or fatal injuries during road accidents. Therefore, Humanetics is developing the Elderly Female Dummy, an Anthropomorphic Test Device which represents 70 year old female car occupants.

DEKRA conducted three full-width frontal impacts in accordance with Regulation UN R137 (except for the front passenger seat position). An early prototype version of an Elderly Female Dummy, the HIII 5th Female dummy and the HIII 50th Male dummy, were each placed on the front passenger seat. A field study and GIDASanalysis yielded that the front passenger seat is most often placed in its longitudinal mid-position. This position was used in the crash tests.

The Elderly Female was the only Anthropomorphic Test Device tested, whose thorax was reclined at time of airbag contact. The HIII 5th Female, however, experienced only minimal torso flexion. The Elderly Female also experienced considerable upper chest deflection.

To optimise occupant protection, more research is required into the biofidelity of the Elderly Female and the development of respective Injury Assessment Reference Values and injury risk functions.