Female drivers beware: If you think the safety mechanisms in your car will protect you from being injured during a motor vehicle accident, you had better think again. According to a recent study published in the American Journal of Public Health, women wearing a seat belt are 47 percent more likely to be injured in a car crash than men.
"Female motor vehicle drivers today may not be as safe as their male counterparts; therefore, the relative higher vulnerability of female drivers when exposed to moderate and serious crashes must be taken into account," the study authors wrote in a statement.
The reason for this increased vulnerability of female drivers is because of the way that seat belts are made. Since men are three times more likely to be involved in a car accident than women, seat belts are tailored for a man's body - thus ignoring the differences in a woman's weight, height and sitting positions. As a result, the design of seat belts makes them less effective when a female driver is in a car accident, making these drivers more vulnerable to spine and chest injuries.
When conducting this study, researchers looked at car accident data involving seat-belted male and female drivers from 1998 to 2008. The people involved in the accidents were primarily driving passenger cars, although data from SUVs, vans and light trucks were also considered.
Critics of the study say, however, that newer cars should have also been included in the research because the designs of these cars are much more female friendly. According to Clarence Ditlow of the Center for Auto Safety, the results would have been much different if the accident data for newer model cars had been incorporated into the study.
"The average life of a car is around 12 years," he said in an interview with ABC News. "The study would have a lot more value if it were limited to 2000 and later model year vehicles to make sure all vehicles had female friendly airbags."
Regardless of study results, car collisions can have devastating effects on all vehicle occupants. If you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident, speak to a personal injury attorney to discuss your situation and help you pursue compensation for your injuries.
