Women Are 60% More Likely Than Men to Be Injured in Car Crashes

Researchers at Graz University of Technology reached this conclusion after analyzing crash data from Austria between 2012 and 2024. The study focused on 20,000 accidents involving a man and a woman in the same car, in which at least one person was injured.

Women were injured in 90% of crashes, compared to 57% for men. Serious injuries among women were also recorded at lower collision speeds.

To understand why, researchers recreated some of the least obvious crashes using computer simulations. They adjusted seat position, seatback angle, crash speed, and seat-belt and airbag behavior.

One major reason for the higher risk may be that vehicle safety systems have been designed and tested for decades around the "average male body." Standard crash-test dummies are modeled on an average-sized man, while "female" dummies are often just smaller versions of the male model. They don't properly account for differences in pelvis width, shoulder shape, or chest structure. According to the researchers, these models fail to accurately represent 95% of women.

Women are also more likely to ride in the passenger seat, where reclining too far back or sitting farther from the dashboard can reduce the effectiveness of seat belts and airbags. The underlying issue is clear: crash tests are usually based on "average" occupants sitting in an ideal upright position.

The researchers recommend developing seat belts that adapt to a passenger's body shape and seating position, as well as testing safety systems on a wider range of body types, including digital human models that could reduce the need for millions of physical crash tests.

Is it fair that car safety systems have historically been designed around men?

❤️ — Yes, men drive more often
🎃 — No, that's discrimination
🤔 — It's just how the industry evolved

@hiaimediaen