A new study from Graz University of Technology reveals that women face a 60 percent higher risk of injury in car crashes compared to men, even in lower-speed impacts.
Researchers analyzed Austrian crash data from 2012 to 2024 and reconstructed accidents using crash tests and virtual human models.
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They found women are significantly more prone to serious injuries to the chest, spine, arms, and legs, with older women at the greatest risk.
Outdated Crash Dummies
One major reason is that vehicle safety standards have long been based on the average male body.
The traditional female crash dummy is simply a scaled-down male version representing a very petite woman, but 95 percent of women are larger than that dummy.
Last year, the US government introduced the THOR-05F crash test dummy, a more sophisticated female model designed around realistic female anatomy.
It includes advanced sensors and improved biomechanics to better measure how women's bodies react during collisions.
The researchers emphasize that women are not just smaller men. Differences in pelvic structure, chest shape, shoulder geometry, and spinal motion all affect injury outcomes.
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Seating Position and New Technology
The study also highlighted seating position as a major factor. Front passengers often recline more or sit farther back, reducing airbag and seatbelt effectiveness.
Women are more likely to occupy the passenger seat, increasing their exposure to these risks.
Automakers are responding with smarter restraint systems.
Volvo's new EX60 features a multi-adaptive safety belt that monitors occupant size, posture, seating position, and crash severity in real time, adjusting seatbelt loads accordingly.
This could reduce injuries for smaller occupants while improving protection for larger passengers.
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Combined with more realistic crash testing, these advances may help modern vehicle safety better protect all occupants.
