Seat belts cause higher fatality rate for female driver

By Lee Seung-joon

Females are at higher fatality rate than males when involved in a car accident because of seat belts.

The Center for Auto Safety in the U.S. conducted a study on the difference in risk for female based on car accident data from 1998 to 2008. It showed that safety belts were more oriented for men rather than women, who are shorter and lighter on average, making them sit in different positions compared to men. Due to the factors, women had suffered from serious injuries in car accidents 48 percent more than men in similar crashes.

Carmakers designed belts more suitable for men because they were three times more likely to be involved in a car crash that led to serious or fatal injuries. Recently, however, a higher number of female drivers have been involved in serious accidents.

The government and auto industry said that the study only focused on cars made before 2008 and newer cars have adjustment systems on the seat that would change the odds. However, Clarence Ditlow of the Center for Auto Safety still claims, “Female drivers today may not be as safe as their male counterparts.”

The study was reported in the October issue of the American Journal of Public Health.