News, Doctors call for fat crash test dummies after study finds obese are more likely to die in car accidents. (overweight, muscles)

[JD59]

Obese drivers are more likely to die if they are involved in a serious car crash than those of normal weight, a study has revealed.

Doctors behind the research said it showed an urgent need for the use of overweight crash test dummies.


Read more: Obese more likely to die in car accidents, say doctors as they call for fat crash test dummies | Mail Online

[Cunucu Beach]

Hmmmm.....one would think that with all that padding, they would have a little more protection.

[ToucheGA]

On average, I imagine obese individuals tend to have more medical problems (e.g. cardiac problems, etc) that could be fatally aggravated following an accident. An obese test dummy might provide data regarding the effectiveness (or lack thereof) of seat belts air bags, etc. However, the dummies would probably not be able to account for aggravation of pre-existing medical conditions.

[miyu]

Weird... maybe they get squished more when the car is crushed because of overall increased body mass. But you'd think that with all the intra-abdominal fat that really protects the aorta, liver, and spleen! But maybe it has to do with cervical spinal cord injuries as fat people might not have the best protection in that area and the large body mass can cause a lot of momentum and shearing forces on the neck?

I think being very muscular really helps people to survive injuries. I once saw a bullet aimed point blank straight into the back that actually curved around the chest wall muscles so it didn't even enter him! So amazing. But probably not so useful for motorcycle crashes.

[lifelongMOgal]

It would stand to reason that the heavier (not necessarily obese) an object (like a human body) is the more energy it carries with it in a crash.