New Crash Test Dummies model Obese older drivers.
Crash Test Dummies Become Obese As Americans become larger.
Chris O Connor CEO Humanetics said that obese people are 78 percent more likely to die in a car accident compared to those within their ideal weight, according to statistics given by the University of California-Berkeley s safe transport and research Center Education O Connor said air bags and seat belts today are not designing for obese people.
An obese person has more mass around the center portion and a wider rear section that pushes out of position, they sit in front and the belt does not enter the pool easily.
Crash test dummies are used to test the impact of an accident in different situations The vehicle with the crash test dummy is tested using different forces, movements, acceleration and bending in the event of a car accident.
According to the New York Daily News 70 percent of Americans are overweight or obese, which is why the safety devices must be rethought to take account of their weight.
O Connor said they are still testing a crash test dummy that was done in the 1980s, it weighs 170 pounds, and does not represent the weight of the general population today.
New overweight crash test dummies cost 500,000 each and they last forever USA Today reports that the new crash test dummies, car designers will be able to find support and seat belts that are safer for the driver and passengers.
Humanetics said the new crash test dummies are not only heavier, they are bigger too.
The model is a bit bigger because the population is now bigger, but to be honest, it's all in the butt, thighs, and core because that's where the weight gain occurred.
The producer said that the new line of crash test dummies will be available for sale next year, however, it is still unclear whether the crash testers will use them.
Russ Rader of the Road Safety Insurance Institute said they have a family of Humanetics models they use for testing, but they can consider using the new obese models in the future.
Jennie Ecclestone, head of safety communications at General Motors, said that their company uses a crash test dummy representing a man in the 95th percentile.
Our biggest model is 233 pounds, and although it may not seem to encompass everyone, our testing is conservative enough and done in a way that can cover a larger audience than the number of weight may suggest.
Humanetics also announced that they can release more diverse models of crash tests in the future, including a line for the elderly and women.
Crash Test Dummies Become Obese As Americans become larger, crash, test, dummies, become.