Axios reports a new study finds that “women face a much higher risk than men of being seriously injured or killed in a crash.” Researchers at the University of Virginia found that “the likelihood of sustaining a serious to fatal injury in newer cars was 55 percent lower compared to older vehicles,” but “females were 73 percent more likely than males to sustain a serious to fatal injury in a collision.” The reasons “aren’t entirely clear, because there’s a lack of female-specific crash safety data, says Jason Forman, principal scientist at UVA’s Center for Applied Biomechanics.” Axios says “virtual crash test dummies, as well as cheaper 3D-printed models, could make it easier to conduct safety tests involving female occupants – but only if the industry isn’t distracted by safety challenges in future vehicles.” NHTSA “says new, more lifelike dummies are in development, but at several million dollars apiece, change comes slowly, notes Forman, adding that dummies are only as good as the data on which they are based.”
From the news release of the American Association for Justice.
