Study Reveals Higher Injury Risks for Older Car Passengers

Research highlights the increased vulnerability of passengers over 50 and calls for improved safety measures.

A study by the Unfallforschung der Versicherer (UDV) found that car passengers over 50 face up to 3.5 times higher injury risks compared to younger passengers.
Current seatbelt and airbag systems are not optimally designed for older passengers, often causing severe chest injuries due to weaker bones and muscles.
Adaptive restraint systems, which adjust force based on crash scenarios, are recommended to better protect older passengers.
Women, who are more likely to sit in the front passenger seat, face higher injury risks due to the seat's increased vulnerability in frontal collisions.
Smaller vehicles pose greater injury risks, particularly for women and shorter individuals, due to seating positions closer to the dashboard.