Female drivers experience greater vulnerabilities when involved
in motor vehicle crashes, according to a new study published
online yesterday in the American Journal of Public Health.
Researchers say the lack of tailoring of safety designs toward
women may be to blame. Using national crash data to determine
the role of driver gender as a predictor of injury outcome when
involved in a crash, researchers found that belted female
drivers are more susceptible to injuries compared with belted
male drivers when involved in a similar motor vehicle crash.
They also found that belted female drivers exhibited a higher
risk of chest and spine injuries compared with their male
counterparts. The authors noted “a higher risk of lower extreme
injuries reported for female drivers as a result of their
relatively short stature, preferred seating posture and a
combination of these factors yielding lower safety protection
from the standard restraint devices.” “One reason safety systems
are designed more for the male population i