Women are twice as likely to suffer whiplash-related injuries in car accidents, but most automakers still use crash dummies based on men when safety testing their cars. A new crash dummy developed at the Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg aims to change that. 

The new dummy is the size of an average woman and is specifically designed for testing in rear impact car accidents. The university used real women during early testing to make sure that the movement was accurate. 

The university found that in rear impacts women accelerate faster partially because their weight causes the seat to flex less. This can increase the likelihood of injuries.

The dummy is still a prototype, but it could lead to safer seats in the future. 

Source: Reuters