Women driving cars are much more likely than male drivers to be seriously injured in a crash, even when both groups wear seat belts, according to a new report.

Researchers at the University of Virginia reviewed information on 45,445 crash victims gathered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration over 11 years. Their study was published online Oct. 20 in The American Journal of Public Health.

Compared with male drivers in the study, women were 5 ½ inches shorter and 35 pounds lighter; fewer were overweight; and more were driving passenger cars at the time of the crash. After controlling for these factors and others, the researchers found that women were 47 percent more likely to suffer severe injuries.

The investigators say female drivers are more susceptible to injury because of differences in neck strength and musculature, the positioning of head restraints, and their shorter stature and preferred seating posture. Car safety devices have been designed largely for men, and women may need safety features that take into account their differences.