Rising obesity rates make crash test dummies ‘chubby’
The experts explained that they used dummies with a high body mass index since the weight of adults increased and the seat belts and airbags had to be redesigned.
Currently, the heaviest crash test dummy used to test airbags and seat belts in safety tests weighs 98 pounds, but road safety experts worry the equipment isn’t strong enough. for heavier people.
More than a quarter of adults in the country are obese with a body mass index of 30 or more, compared to 28 per cent, according to the UK Health Survey. This rate doubled in one generation. According to the Times story, the new model prepared for testing was an obese man with a body mass index of 35.
DIFFERENT ACCORDING TO GENDER, HEIGHT, WEIGHT AND AGE
The vehicle safety rating system, known as Euro NCAP (European New Car Assessment Program), will announce next Wednesday, as part of the Vision 2030 plan, that safety devices will cover broader body types in terms of of weight, age, sex and height in the future. .
“Restrictions optimized for the average-height cyclist would not be equally appropriate for shorter or taller cyclists, or obese or vulnerable older cyclists,” the experts said.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, obese people, who make up 40 percent of drivers in the United States, suffer 79 percent more injuries than the average man. It was also found that older people, who make up 20 percent of drivers, sustain 76 percent more injuries than the average man.
The system also disappoints older drivers, who are at greater risk of bone fractures due to the airbags deploying at around 200 mph (321 km/h) and inflating with a force of up to 2,000 pounds (900 kilograms).
This creates a dilemma for manufacturers, as safety devices that are heavy and strong enough to save young adults can put lighter and more fragile ones at risk of injury.
Experts said the solution lies in placing sensors inside the car to monitor the driver and passengers and adjust safety restrictions based on their weight, height, shape, gender and age.