According to a study by the road safety institute VIAS, 80% of the people that die in road traffic accidents in Belgium are men. VIAS’ study is based on figures from the police road traffic accident database. The study also reveals that the chance of surviving a road accident is twice as great if a woman is behind the wheel of the vehicle that is involved. VIAS says that the differences are due to men being more inclined to take risks when out on the roads.
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8 out of 10 road accident fatalities are male
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The road safety institute VIAS examined all accidents involving injuries or deaths in Belgium during the past 10 years. Amongst other things, VIAS found that accidents involving men usually are much more serious than accidents involving women. 8 out of 10 road traffic fatalities in Belgium are men.
The difference in fatality figures between the sexes is most pronounced when it comes to accidents involving motorcycles. 96% of motorcycle accident fatalities are male. Among cyclists and motorists, the figure is 3 in 4, while among pedestrians it is only just over half.
The overrepresentation of men in the figures is due to men’s tendancy to exhibit more risky behaviour, VIAS’ spokesman Stef Willems told VRT News. “Men travel cover more kilometres, but their over-representation is still largely due to their own risky behaviour.”
Speeding and not wearing a seat belt
"In 10% of accidents involving men, the driver is under the influence of alcohol. With women, this is 5%, so half as many."
Mr Willems goes on to say that in the past studies have shown that, for example, men tend to drive faster, get distracted more while driving, wear seat belts less often and are more likely to be driving without valid insurance than women.
"We also see this reflected in the safe driving training that we give to traffic offenders”. The training is used by the courts as an alternative punishment. "80% of the people that have to take the training course are men" he says.
Awareness-raising campaign aimed at men
VIAS says that awareness campaigns should focus more on a male audience. "With the last BOB (anti-drink driving) campaign, for example, we targeted football supporters. We handed out key rings in the club colours.
That campaign was not aimed exclusively at men, but we do know that football supporters are still predominantly male."