After testing on human cadavers, human volunteers and animals didn’t work out so well, the automotive industry saw the need for something else. That’s when Samuel Alderson created “Sierra Sam” in 1949. This first “dummy” was able to withstand accelerations and other tests that previous test subjects couldn’t endure.
The success of “Sierra Sam” led Alderson to produce a series of crash test dummies exclusively for two major car companies. He also built another dummy – “Sierra Stan” – but once company started building its own dummies by then.
Since those days in the early 1970s, companies have created more sophisticated and realistic dummies. The current line of models is called the Hybrid III and made its first appearance in 1976. It represents that average American male at 5’6″ tall with a weight of about 170 pounds. He is always in the driver’s seat for the crash tests. There are also dummies that represent typical female passengers, child passengers and other passengers of all sizes. The best thing about the Hybrid III model is that they are designed in such a way to give researchers data about how the neck and head respond in a collision.
As you can see, the crash test dummy has been a vital part of automotive safety. You can see many of them safety features that they have helped create at your local Toyota dealer. Why not visit one today and see how safe these vehicles make you and your family feel on the roads?