The association between body habitus, restraint use, and fatality in motor vehicle collisions.
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.
Moran
S G
SG
Center for Injury Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
McGwin
G
G
Reiff
D A
DA
Rue
L W
LW
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000401:mortality*; D001334:Automobile Driving; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D006801:Humans; D012622:Seat Belts; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology