Ergonomics in Automobiles Prevents Accidents

Research shows that women are more likely to be injured in side collision accidents than men. Since women are shorter than standard-sized male drivers, they sit closer to the pedal and steering wheel in the driver's seat. This causes chest and neck injuries in the event of a collision. Yeditepe University Koşuyolu Hospital Orthopedics and Traumatology Specialist underlined that male and female drivers of different weights and heights should adjust the safety standards according to themselves and stated that not adjusting the seat belt, driver's seat, and steering wheel position in the vehicle according to the driver causes fatal consequences in accidents.

Weight and Height Determine the Type of Injury

Yeditepe University Koşuyolu Hospital Orthopedics and Traumatology Specialist stated that arm and elbow fractures are seen in drivers who do not have the correct sitting position, arm and elbow fractures according to the way they hold the steering wheel, rib fractures, and internal organ injuries if the chest distance is close to the steering wheel. Our specialist said, "Neck injuries caused by seat belts passing through the neck instead of the chest level are common. Not every person is standard. When you get into the car, you should definitely adjust the seat according to yourself. This both improves your driving quality and prevents accidents. If the belt does not support the chest, it can cut the neck, if there is no support behind the head, the head can go backward or forward during an accident, and serious injuries up to paralysis can occur. Women sometimes sit too close to the steering wheel and neglect the airbag. Let's not forget that the airbag is to reduce the traumas that will happen to us, but if it is deployed at that proximity, it can also cause trauma itself."

Pregnant Women Should Be More Careful

Pregnant women are a special group of drivers to consider in in-car safety tests. Pregnant drivers, who are often neglected in the driver's seat in crash tests, have to pay extra attention to be safe in existing safety systems. Yeditepe University Hospitals Orthopedics and Traumatology Specialist said, "Pregnant women do not wear belts, saying that the belt squeezes them, but especially pregnant women should avoid the slightest trauma."