A recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study revealed progress in an alarming trend. The report provided much-needed and promising news involving male and female drivers and the literal and figurative impact of post-car accidents.
“Female Crash Fatality Risk Relative to Males for Similar Physical Impacts” revealed a reduction in female motor vehicle deaths while driving car models manufactured starting in 2000. The gap between male and female fatality risks dropped from 18 percent to 6.3 percent from 2010 to 2020, with the latter half of the decade dropping to 2.9 percent.
Life-saving parity
The smaller statistic moves women closer to the number of men dying in motor vehicle accidents with similar physical impacts. In addition, recently implemented Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and educational campaigns promoting seat belts and airbags.
Advanced seatbelts are cited for playing a role in fatality disparities based on gender, dropping to 6.1 percent. An increase in use helps as well. Model year cards from 2010 to 2020 saw 83 percent of occupants buckling up compared to 33 percent in vehicles manufactured back to 1960. Cars with dual airbags have also reduced the fatality risk for women.
The agency is also taking steps to eliminate crash outcomes for the two genders.
- Crash test dummies, once exclusively replicating the male body, will be replaced with biofidelic versions
- Computer modeling to evaluate the effects of collisions on various types of body shapes and sizes
- Studying the degree to which sex disparities exist in similar crashes
- Evaluated new safety standards to wipe out any remaining differences
Regardless of size, body type, and gender, the death of a loved one in a preventable car accident represents a tragic milestone. Grieving family members want questions answered and justice to prevail. That is where a skilled personal injury attorney can help.