Gender and Age Influence on Fatality Risk from the Same Physical Impact Determined using Two-Car Crashes 2001-01-1174

Studies using the double-pair-comparison method found that fatality risk from the same physical impact is (28 ± 3)% greater for females than for males, and increases with age after age 20 at compound annual rates of (2.52 ± 0.08)% for males and (2.16 ± 0.10)% for females. The purpose of the present study is to investigate fatality risk from the same physical impact versus gender and age using a different method and data distinct from those in the other studies. Female to male fatality risk was estimated using two-car crashes in which the gender of the two drivers differed. Fatality risk from the same impact is found to be (22 ± 9)% greater for females than for males, and to increase annually after age 20 by (2.86 ± 0.32)% for males and (2.66 ± 0.37)% for females. The relatively close quantitative agreement between the present and double-pair-comparison estimates increases confidence in the validity of double-pair-comparison methods and the present method.