Crash test dummy, England, 1980

Crash impact test dummy for measurement of injury during vehicle collisions, by Ogle Design Ltd., 1980, Letchworth

Crash test dummies have been developed to predict the dangers to human bodies during vehicle collisions and accidents. This type of testing is vital in establishing car safety. The dummies are exact replicas of the human body, including correct centres of gravity and fully articulated and weighted limbs.

This dummy also has the ability to shrug its shoulders, which is important when testing seat belts. Ogle Design Limited produced a wide range of dummies from a three-year-old child to a range of adult male and female models. The data used for the models was based on research on the human body using cadavers – which have themselves been controversially used to test car safety in the past. The models were designed to be seated in a car but pedestrian models were also available.