Women 60% More at Risk of Injury in Car Accidents

Jakarta — Vehicle safety technology has continued to advance over recent decades. However, recent research demonstrates that the level of protection women receive during car accidents remains unequal to that afforded to men, even though in many cases accidents involving women occur at lower speeds.

The research was conducted by analysing crash data from Austria between 2012 and 2024. Researchers reconstructed various accident scenarios using crash tests and virtual human models to determine injury patterns.

The findings showed that women are more vulnerable to serious injuries to the chest, spine, arms and legs. This risk is even higher among elderly women.

Researchers identified that one of the primary causes of this disparity is vehicle safety standards that have historically referenced male body characteristics. Indeed, female crash test dummies used by the automotive industry for years are essentially smaller versions of male dummies. Yet research indicates that approximately 95 percent of women have body sizes larger than these reference dummies.

This issue is beginning to receive attention. A new model has been developed based on more realistic female anatomy and equipped with advanced sensors to measure body response during impact.

Researchers from TU Graz noted that women cannot simply be considered as smaller versions of men.