Faglige nøgleord: Psychology, road safety, safety, helmet use, helmets, traffic, traffic safety, mobility, mobility safety, gender, gender equality, feminism, women, women's safety, low-income countries, kenya, social science, motorcycle, bike, femicide
Oplæg tilgængeligt på: Engelsk og hollandsk
How safe are women on the road — and why does it matter? In many low- and middle-income countries, motorcycles are everywhere: they’re affordable, fast, and often the only way to get around. But, they’re also one of the biggest sources of serious injuries. My PhD research looks at how gender affects motorcycle safety. Women tend to take fewer risks and are involved in fewer crashes than men, yet when a crash happens, women are often injured more severely — even when the crash is just as bad. Why? One unexpected reason is helmet use. Helmets can reduce the risk of head injury by up to 70%, but not everyone wears them, and gendered cultural norms often influence who does. By studying these patterns, I aim to understand how gender and behavior shape road safety and how better policies and awareness campaigns can protect the most vulnerable riders and passengers.
Why does this matter for sustainability? Road traffic injuries are a major public health challenge and a barrier to sustainable development. Safer roads mean fewer lives lost, less strain on healthcare systems, and more equitable access to mobility. By addressing gendered barriers to safety, my research supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals on health, equality, and sustainable cities.
My journey here: In high school, I studied human sciences because I was curious about people and society. Later, I pursued 'theoretical and experimental psychology' at Ghent University, where I discovered a love for theoretical basis of psychology, as opposed to the more popular clinical side. I never imagined becoming a researcher — especially as the first in my family to study beyond high school — but my passion grew during my studies. Today, I’m a PhD student at DTU, working on a project that combines behavioral science and road safety to make transport systems fairer and safer.