B2 – Upper Intermediate
It is commonly stated that men are more likely to die earlier than women. However, there are several scenarios in which the opposite is true. Filmmaker Eve Van Dyke discovered this during a trip in November 2024 that ended in a car crash. She noticed that the women sustained worse injuries than the men involved in the accident. As it turns out, that was not merely a coincidence. In the United States, women are 17% more likely than men to die in car accidents and 73% more likely to suffer serious injuries.
To find out why, watch the video below.
Vocabulary Questions:
- What does “descent into the rabbit hole” mean? “
If my descent into the rabbit hole taught me anything, it’s going to take a lot more than that to change the course of women’s car safety.” Use this idiom in a sentence. Give a similar expression. - What does “sheer callous” mean?“Either it’s sheer calluses or indifference or they don’t bother to find out how their cars behave.” Use this expression in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
- What does “to sideline someone/something” mean? “NHTSA has been sidelining female dummies for nearly 50 years.” Use this phrase in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
Discussion Questions:
- Do you think cars are designed for men rather than women?
- What are your thoughts on women experiencing more severe road accident injuries than men? What do you think are the reasons for this?
- Do you believe that authorities have neglected women’s safety despite calls for greater consideration of this issue?
- How common is it for women to be involved in traffic incidents in your country? What factors might contribute to these accidents?
- Should authorities implement significant policies to better protect women from traffic accidents?