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.
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4255 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4255
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.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 30, 2021
Mr. Bilirakis (for himself, Ms. Castor of Florida, and Ms. Norton)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
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.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Furthering Advanced and Inclusive
Research for Crash Tests Act'' or the ``FAIR Crash Tests Act''.
SEC. 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'') for studying and
deploying crash test dummies;
(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.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce.
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