All Oklahoma residents are at risk of getting into a car accident. However, a study has found out that women are more at risk of injuries in these collisions.
What does the study reveal?
According to a study, women have a higher risk of injuries from car accidents. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety conducted this study and revealed that there are a variety of reasons why women might be more likely to be injured than men in such situations.
Specifically, the study reveals that women in front seats of a vehicle are 17% more at risk of getting killed in an accident compared with men. They also have a 73% higher risk of suffering injuries compared with men.
Why are these discrepancies happening?
It’s believed that the reason behind these discrepancies is the way carmakers conduct crash tests. Crash test dummies are designed more like men in terms of height and weight at 5-feet-9 inches tall and 171 pounds. By contrast, many women are shorter and weigh less, which explains why the latest vehicles might not offer the best safety for them.
Women are also more likely to choose smaller, lighter vehicles. These vehicles can pose a risk if a car accident occurs. Meanwhile, men are more likely to opt for larger, heavier vehicles that are more durable and can offer more of a protective buffer in accidents.
Men are also more likely to be at fault for motor vehicle accidents. This poses more of a risk for the person or persons in the vehicle that gets hit. If that vehicle is one that’s lighter and weighs less, the effects from the accident can be devastating to the occupants. Additionally, some larger vehicles don’t include advanced safety features like automatic emergency braking, which can help to lessen the impact of a crash.
The study results indicate that more crash tests need to be performed using dummies that are adequately sized based on women’s bodies. It can help to make things safer for women if they’re in an accident.
