Women Are 17% More Likely to Be Killed in a Car Accident

Who Is More Likely to Die in a Car Accident?

In absolute numbers, men are more likely to die in car crashes. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, from 1975 to 2023, male crash deaths were more than twice the number of female crash deaths for nearly every year. During this time period, male car crash deaths decreased by 9% and female car crash deaths decreased by 5%.^[2]

These behavioral differences lead to higher crash involvement and therefore higher total fatalities among men.

Why Are Women at Higher Risk in Similar Crashes?

There are a number of reasons women may be more at risk of dying in a car accident than men. Some are out of our control, and some could potentially be solved by vehicle design and a more gendered perspective on safety testing.

1. Biological differences

Male and female bodies respond differently in collisions:

• Women generally have lower bone density and different muscle distribution
• Differences in pelvis shape and neck strength affect injury patterns
• Women are more prone to certain injuries like whiplash and pelvic trauma
• Women are, on average, shorter, lighter and more likely to sit closer to the steering wheel

These differences mean the same crash can produce different outcomes.

2. Vehicle design and seating position

Knowing everything we know about the biological differences between women and how they position themselves in vehicles, it’s worth looking at who vehicles are designed for. 

Modern vehicles have historically been designed and tested using a “default male” body, which has created measurable safety disparities for women. For decades, crash test dummies—the basis for seat belts, airbags, and overall vehicle safety design—have been modeled on a 50th-percentile male (about 5'9", 171 lbs), with little representation of female anatomy or biomechanics.

3. The crash test dummy problem

One of the biggest—and most overlooked—factors is how cars are tested.

As mentioned above, for decades, vehicle safety has been built around a male crash test dummy representing a body that is 5 '9" and 171 pounds. 

“Female” dummies, when used at all, have historically been just smaller versions of male dummies representing only the smallest 5% of women and not taking into account the different weight distribution and biomechanics of female bodies. 

Additionally, the female crash test dummies are sometimes used in the passenger seat, not the driver’s seat, despite the fact that female drivers outnumber the number of male drivers. 

This has real consequences. Safety systems (seatbelts, airbags, headrests) are optimized for male bodies making them less likely to prevent injury or death in the event of a crash. 

As a result, cars can score highly in safety ratings while still being less protective for women.

Are Things Improving?

In recent years, there has been some (slow) progress in testing standards. Female crash test dummies were only introduced in limited ways in the early 2000s. Even then, they were not widely used in key test positions.^[6]

However, more recently, new, more advanced female dummies, such as the THOR-05F, are being developed. These include better anatomical accuracy and more sensors.^[7] But adoption into official testing standards has been slow.

Overall, vehicle safety has improved for everyone, which is why we’re seeing car fatalities go down across the board. However, the gender gap in safety has narrowed but not disappeared. Research suggests that cars built after the 2000s reduce injury risk for both genders, but women still face higher injury severity overall.

Gender Is a Rating Factor in Auto Insurance

Auto insurance prices often differ between men and women, especially at younger ages, because insurers rely on statistical risk patterns tied to both driving behavior and injury outcomes. 

Historically, data have shown that young men are more likely to engage in risky driving. As we already know, they are more likely to speed, drive impaired, and cause severe crashes. This leads insurers to charge them higher premiums in many states. In fact, women pay more than men for auto insurance in only 4 states. 

However, safety and likelihood of injury also play a role in more nuanced ways. While men tend to cause more high-severity accidents, we also know women are more likely to be injured in comparable crashes, due in part to vehicle design differences and biomechanical factors. Insurers factor in not just who causes accidents, but also the expected cost of claims, including medical payouts and injury severity. 

Wrapping Up

Car safety has historically been treated as gender neutral. But it's far from it. The reliance on male-based testing has shaped decades of vehicle design, unintentionally leaving women less protected.

Men are more likely to cause fatal crashes. Women are more likely to be harmed in equivalent crashes. 

The good news is awareness is growing. Regulators and researchers are pushing for better representation. New crash test technologies could help close the gap.