August 1, 2024
August Newsletter
Happy August 1, all.
What a month July was. We have many exciting updates to share, so let’s jump in.
First, news about the She DRIVES Act, S. 4299. We at Drive are continuing to advocate on behalf of the bill, and have officially met with over 1/3 of Senate offices! We’re proud and grateful to say that this hard work is beginning to pay off – this month, Senator Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) all cosponsored the bill. These are three influential Senators, and we’re thankful to have them on board.
In addition to Senators Fischer, Murray, Blackburn, Duckworth, Warnock, Capito, and Brown, several important organizations have come out in support of the She DRIVES Act. Thank you to Families for Safe Streets, the National Safety Council, and Vision Zero Youth Council for officially endorsing the bill.
Second, the U.S. House and Senate Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittees released their Fiscal Year 2025 Report Language. This year, both chambers’ versions of the bill directed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to test cars with the most advanced crash test dummies possible, and to use the male and female dummies equally. Check out our explainer here.
Thank you to Subcommittee leaders Senator Schatz & Senator Hyde-Smith, and Congressman Womack &Congressman Quigley who worked to secure this important language. While we are grateful for the leadership of these members, it is important to recognize that Appropriations Report Language is not binding, and only *directs* NHTSA to act. To legally require that NHTSA test cars with female dummies, we need a piece of legislation – one like S. 4299. Please, call your Senator today and urge them to support the She DRIVES Act; you can find their office phone number here.
Third, I want to highlight the work of an incredible young woman. Megan McCardle, of Newcastle, Ireland, reached out to me a few months ago about a project she was working on for school, called Laplock. In her words, “Laplock is designed to combat the gender disparity of safety in the automobile industry. With women being 19% more likely to be killed and 73% more likely to sustain serious injury than their male counterparts in comparable crashes. This is an issue that needs to be addressed now more than ever. Women and other people with smaller pelvises than the “average man” than the car is designed for face the risk of the belt slipping up off their hips to the wrong position across their stomachs, placing vital organs at risk. Laplock’s haptic feedback and awareness campaign are designed to educate and remind users of proper belt positioning. The base, made from recycled tyre rubber, creates traction between the belt and the user, working to ensure the belt is in the proper position.”
A few weeks ago, Megan won a Creative Impact Award from Creative Conscience — an award she surely deserved. I am so honored to have been included in the development of this important and innovative design, and grateful for the hard work Megan has devoted to making cars safer for women. Thank you, Megan, and congratulations!
Fourth, I am honored to be a featured speaker at #NYTEC2024 – the National Youth Transportation Equity Convening – this September in Denver, Colorado. Interested in joining? Registration is still open here. Hope to see you there!
Lastly, I had the great honor of meeting Joan Claybrook, the first female NHTSA Administrator and former President of Public Citizen, and Jackie Gillan, former president of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, last week. These two women worked together for the passage of 12+ life-saving laws through Congress, including the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act and the Highway Safety Act. I am so grateful for everything they have done (and continue to do!) to make our roads safer for every body. Thank you, Joan and Jackie!
If you’ve made it this far, thank you for reading. As always, our door is open – if you have any questions, comments or ideas, please do let me know. I’m here for you!
Warmly,
Maria