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“We realized that until now no previous studies had been done on how gender differences can influence road safety and the wearing of seat belts. That's why we included it in our experiments,” explains Silvia Santos Cuadros, from the UC3M Department of Mechanical Engineering. “In fact, many of the studies in this field have used male models as a reference, ignoring the anthropometric diversity of women.”

With this research, financed by the Community of Madrid through the agreement-subvention for the encouragement and promotion of research and technology transfer at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (ORIGEN-CM-UC3M), the aim is to increase the protection of vehicle occupants regardless of gender in the search for a safer and more inclusive future. This is key, since anatomical and behavioural differences could mean women face a greater risk of muscular or cervical injuries due to limitations in the design of current belts during emergency braking, according to the researchers. 

“This project can provide valuable information to improve not only the future safety of autonomous vehicles, but also that of current means of transport such as trains, buses or subways, where sudden decelerations can cause injuries,” says Silvia Santos.

To carry out the study, they have designed a series of tests in which women with different anthropometric characteristics will travel in instrumented vehicles, with sensors that will measure their biomechanical response at the articular, kinematic and muscular level during different situations, such as braking in autonomous vehicles in the direction of travel or in reverse. The data obtained will be analysed with artificial intelligence tools in order to identify patterns that can help improve current safety systems and to analyse how the seatbelt affects passenger safety.

“For this reason, the university is inviting women of different ages and physical characteristics to participate in this study,” says Eva Herrero, from the UC3M Department of Communications, who is seeking collaboration in order to ensure that safety systems are inclusive and effective. “With this research, the university is reaffirming its commitment to the transfer of knowledge to society. In fact, it is thanks to the collaboration of different sectors that this type of synergistic project can be carried out, showing how scientific research can have a direct impact on people's daily lives,” she adds.

Another of the objectives of this project, which also involves the UC3M Department of Communication, is to analyse the presence of gender in institutional campaigns on road safety in order to carry out more inclusive prevention actions. “This will help to highlight all the different circumstances and provide a more comprehensive and inclusive knowledge of road safety,” concludes Herrero, who is also a member of UC3M's University Institute of Gender Studies (IEG).

More information: https://www.uc3m.es/investigacion/origen