According to recent research obese and very obese are at risk of death in severe car crashes.
According to recent research obese and very obese are at risk of death in severe car crashes.
A moderately obese driver is 21 percent more likely to die in a severe motor vehicle crash compared to non-obese drivers, while being severely obese hikes the risk of death by 56 percent.
However, being just slightly overweight seemed to lower the odds for death in a severe crash: these drivers were actually less likely to die than either underweight or normal-weight drivers.
Researchers analysed data involving 155,584 drivers in severe motor vehicle crashes occurring between 2000-2005 in America. The researchers included all fatalities occurring within 30 days of a crash. The link between obesity and death risk was found for both men and women, the researchers noted.
The findings could have implications for car design and car safety testing. The rate of obesity is continuing to rise, so is it imperative that car designs are modified to protect the obese population, and that crash tests are done using a full range of dummy sizes.
Extending the range of adjustable seats would be helpful, as well as encouraging moderately and morbidly obese individuals to buy larger vehicles with more space between the seat and the steering column.
The researchers recommend that manufacturers should design and test vehicle interiors with obese dummies, which currently are not available.
A moderately obese driver is 21 percent more likely to die in a severe motor vehicle crash compared to non-obese drivers, while being severely obese hikes the risk of death by 56 percent.
However, being just slightly overweight seemed to lower the odds for death in a severe crash: these drivers were actually less likely to die than either underweight or normal-weight drivers.
Researchers analysed data involving 155,584 drivers in severe motor vehicle crashes occurring between 2000-2005 in America. The researchers included all fatalities occurring within 30 days of a crash. The link between obesity and death risk was found for both men and women, the researchers noted.
The findings could have implications for car design and car safety testing. The rate of obesity is continuing to rise, so is it imperative that car designs are modified to protect the obese population, and that crash tests are done using a full range of dummy sizes.
Extending the range of adjustable seats would be helpful, as well as encouraging moderately and morbidly obese individuals to buy larger vehicles with more space between the seat and the steering column.
The researchers recommend that manufacturers should design and test vehicle interiors with obese dummies, which currently are not available.
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