Men are involved in road traffic crashes more often and tend to suffer more severe consequences than women, according to figures released by Germany’s Federal Statistical Office in Wiesbaden ahead of World Men’s Day. Men made up 73.6% of all people killed in road traffic during the past year. Their share was 64% among those seriously injured and 57.1% among those lightly injured.
The statistics indicate a higher risk per capita for males. For every 100,000 male residents, 526 boys and men were involved in a road traffic crash, compared with 369 girls and women. Among those killed, the rates were five men and two women per 100,000 inhabitants.
The office said several factors could explain the difference. Men participate more extensively in road traffic overall and more frequently use vehicles such as motorcycles, which can result in more serious crashes. Accident-cause data also point to more cautious behaviour among women.
The gender gap was particularly large among younger people. Around 28,600 males aged between 15 and 20 were involved in road traffic crashes during the past year, 70.5% more than females in the same age group. A total of 161 young men were killed, five times as many as young women.
Men were also more frequently identified as primarily responsible for crashes involving injuries. They were considered the main party at fault in 56.1% of such accidents during the year.
The most common mistakes for both men and women involved turning, making U-turns, reversing, and entering or leaving roads or properties. Among men, the next most frequent problems were insufficient distance from the vehicle ahead and Inappropriate speed. For women, failing to yield was the second most common error, followed by insufficient distance.
The statistics office said men, particularly younger men, drive more riskily on average and speed more often.
Sources: Der Spiegel.