Figures have already shown this, and the Belgian Vias traffic institute confirms it again: road safety is not gender-neutral. Men die on the road far more often than women. Women, meanwhile, face different — and often overlooked — dangers in daily mobility.

In Belgium, nearly eight out of ten traffic fatalities are men. That ratio has barely changed in the past decade. Even though overall road deaths have declined, men remain two to three times more likely to die in traffic than women. And the same pattern is visible in other European countries.

Male and female behavior

The latest Vias report shows that this is not an accident of biology, but the result of how, when, and where people move. Men usually drive more often and cover longer distances; women, by contrast, make shorter but more frequent trips.

Men use high-risk transport modes more frequently, such as high-speed cars or motorbikes. Women, on the other hand, more often rely on walking, cycling, or using public transport. That makes women more exposed as vulnerable road users, particularly as pedestrians and cyclists.

Attitude toward road risk

People’s attitude toward road risk also differ sharply. Across Europe, men show higher tolerance for speeding, drink-driving, and risky behavior, often reinforced by peer pressure and social norms. Women consistently report lower acceptance of risk, higher seatbelt use, and stronger support for road safety rules.

The result is also visible in statistics: men are far more likely to die in night-time, weekend, and single-vehicle crashes, while women’s fatal crashes occur more often during weekday daytime travel, especially while walking or cycling.

Vehicle design

The Vias report also highlights a less visible issue: vehicle safety design. Crash tests and safety systems have long been calibrated to male body models. As a result, women can face higher injury risk in comparable crashes.

Age plays an important role, too. Young men (18-24) are the highest-risk group overall. Older men (65+) face growing danger as cyclists or pedestrians, and older women (75+) show increased risks as pedestrians.

Who is at risk, when and why

Most transport statistics, however, lack gender-disaggregated exposure data, such as kilometers traveled or time spent in traffic. On top of that, new mobility modes, like e-scooters, are under-researched from a gender perspective.

Vias’ conclusion, therefore, is blunt: road safety is not gender-neutral, and pretending it is makes policy less effective. Ignoring gender differences risks undermining both safety and inclusivity. Designing safer cities, vehicles, and campaigns requires understanding who is at risk, when, and why.