The association between body habitus, restraint use, and fatality in motor vehicle collisions

Moran, Stephan G.; McGwin, Jr., Gerald; Reiff, Donald A.; Rue, III, Loring W.

The purpose of this study was to determine if there is an association between body habitus, restraint use, and risk of death in motor vehicle collisions (MVC).

Methods: The 1995-1999 National Automotive Sampling System Crashworthiness Data System was utilized.

Results: Body habitus, when described by height and weight, is associated with fatality rates in restrained drivers. Body mass index as a descriptor of body habitus was not associated with fatality rates.

Conclusions: The 50th percentile male Hybrid III Crash Dummy plays a major role in vehicular cabin interior design and crash testing. For drivers with a dissimilar body habitus, the vehicle cabin/body fit changes and the safety features perform differently which may account for these observations.

Year

Entry

1995

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1994

Dischinger PC, Burgess AR, Cushing BM, O'Quinn TD, Schmidhauser CB, Ho SM, Juliano PJ, Bents FD. Lower extremity trauma in vehicular front-seat occupants: patients admitted to a level 1 trauma center. In: Proceedings of the SAE International Congress & Exposition. February 28–March 3, 1994; Detroit, MI. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers. SAE 940710.

1986

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1996

Blincoe LJ. The Economic Cost of Motor Vehicle Crashes, 1994. Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, U.S. Dept of Transportation; July 1996. NHTSA Technical Report DOT HS 808 524.

1992

Boulanger BR, Milzman D, Mitchell K, Rodriguez A. Body habitus as a predictor of injury pattern after blunt trauma. J Trauma. August 1992;33(2):228-232.