Humanetics developing Overweight Crash Test Dummies

Plymouth, Michigan-based company Humanetics said that it has been manufacturing overweight crash test dummies to reflect growing obesity trends in the US.

Humanetics has been the pioneer in crash test dummies segment since the 1950s. But now, the company's crash test dummies are undergoing a makeover, which will represent thicker waistlines and large rear ends of Americans.

The new model of Humanetics has been developed after studies found that 78% of obese drivers are more likely to die in a car crash.

A 2010 study from the University at Buffalo and Erie County Medical Center analyzed data from more than 150,000 car crashes in the US between 2000 and 2005.

The findings reveal that moderately obese drivers faced a 21% increased risk of death, and morbidly obese drivers faced a 56% increased risk of death. It was also found that obese female had double the risk of death compared with obese men.

Dummies have traditionally been modeled on a person weighing about 167 pounds with a healthy body mass index (BMI).

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) a person having a BMI of over 30 is considered obese.

The new super-sized dummies are based on the measurements of a 273-pound person with a BMI of 35. Chris O' Connor, CEO of Humanetics mentioned that since one -third of the Americans are now either overweight or obese, according to CDC, they need to find a way to make cars safer for everyone, regardless of size.

He said, "An obese person has more mass around midsection and a larger rear which pushes them out of position. They sit further forward and the belt does not grasp the pelvis as easily".

The larger dummies are expected to become available to manufacturers for use in testing sometime next year. Humanetics has also been developing an age-appropriate dummy to better reflect our aging population.