Study reveals the most dangerous seat in a car – and the answer might surprise you

Contrary to popular belief or anxiety surrounding airtravel, cars are one of the riskiest ways to travel. Statistically, you’re off better taking the ferry.

But of course sometimes using a car is unavoidable. Safety speaking, car safety is often geared towards the driver or pedestrians. But according to a new study, passengers might be more at risk.

New research by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has unearthed new stats about the safety of car passengers. The study revealed that, in certain scenarios, passengers in the back seat are more at risk of injury or death than those riding in the front.

The IIHC research assesses that car manufacturers have tried hard to improve the safety of front-seat passengers and drivers, by introducing airbags with new technology and seatbelts. Conversely, back-seat passengers have received less attention.

David Harkey, president of the IIHS, said in a statement:

Manufacturers have put a lot of work into improving protection for drivers and front-seat passengers. Our moderate overlap front crash test and, more recently, our driver-side and passenger-side small overlap front tests are a big reason why.

We hope a new evaluation will spur similar progress in the back seat.

The study investigated 117 car crashes in which rear-seat occupants were killed or seriously injured. In many of these crashes, back-seat passengers were more seriously injured more than the those in the front seats.

H/T: IFL Science

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