The Safety is one of the main aspects that anyone considers before purchasing a car.and it is no wonder, since traffic accidents are very common events throughout the world.
Unfortunately, these types of collisions can be fatal and although most modern vehicles have systems that offer a safe environment for occupants, not all groups of people benefit equally from this.
A study of Vehicle Safety Institute of the Graz University of Technology (Austria) revealed that when there are two occupants of different sexes in a car, Women are more likely to be injured than men during an accident.
Why women are more at risk of being injured in an accident
The institution analyzed Austrian accident data from the years 2012 to 2024 and through simulations with virtual human models they concluded that women are injured disproportionately more oftenespecially in the chest, spine, arms and legs. Additionally, the risk increases for those over 50 years of age.
One of the main reasons is that For decades, the benchmark for car safety was based on the “average man.”. The study explains that even the so-called female doll is simply a reduced version of the male model, which does not realistically represent the anatomical characteristics of average women such as pelvic width, chest circumference and shoulder geometry.
“Women are not small men. And models of very small and petite women are often not able to represent what we observe in accidents,” explains project coordinator Corina Klug.
Another aspect that directly influences the risk of injury in a car accident, for both women and men, is the seating position on the passenger sidebecause if it is placed too far back or reclined it causes the airbags and seat belts to lose effectiveness, since they are not designed for “non-standard” positions.
What security aspects should be improved?
According to the Graz University of Technology, Car safety systems like seat belts and airbags must become smarter. The institution emphasizes that more realistic tests are needed and that future approval procedures should stipulate different body shapes and seating positions.
Finally, Corina Klug emphasizes that it is important not to sit too far back, it is necessary to straighten the backrest and position the belt so that the lap is over the pelvic bone and the shoulder belt passes over the clavicle.
Accidents can be fatal; Therefore, it is essential to drive with caution, respect all traffic signs and use your seat belt.
