NHTSA Crash Dummies Will Soon Be In The Back Seats

Crash-test dummies, who have dutifully endured thousands of simulated accidents from the front seat, are about to get a ride in the back. Regulators are making the move as part of a new emphasis on the safety of back-seat passengers, including children in car seats, which has lagged advances made for those riding up front. Lending urgency to the effort: the rise of Uber Technologies Inc., Lyft Inc. and a new car-sharing economy that has more people riding in the rear. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration plans to test dummies in back seats in new models as part of its 5-Star Safety Ratings Program beginning in 2019.