Obesity and driving: Never too late to be aware of

Being an obese person increases the risk of having certain diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and some types of cancer. Moreover, the health risks are not just about that.

Several studies show that obese persons are not that safe under the wheel. The reason behind this may be because of uncomfortable seat belts.

Some also tend not to use the seatbelt at all. In this article, Philkotse.com will tackle what you need to know about obesity and driving.

How does obesity affect driving?

Obese drivers are more prone to have health issues than normal drivers. These health issues may cause the drivers to be unsafe on the roads. Obesity is also the primary cause of OSA or obstructive sleep apnea.

OSA is a chronic disorder that disturbs the sleep of a person. In other words, it deprives the person to sleep. It causes fatigue and great daytime sleepiness. Drivers with less sleep are more likely to experience a car accident.

Obese drivers are more prone to have health issues than normal drivers

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Other than diseases caused by obesity, there is also the problem of fastening the seat belt. The seatbelt is one of the safety features in a car that can save a driver's and passenger's life in an accident. It keeps the person from being thrown out or forward of the vehicle.

Proper usage of seat belts properly is important to lessen the injury during a car accident. Unfortunately, obese drivers often experience difficulty in using seatbelts. They either wear seatbelts in an improper way or not wearing it at all.

A seatbelt works greatest when the belt lies close to your pelvis and shoulder bone. It should also be tight crossways the collarbone and low athwart the hip. Obesity has a bad effect on proper seat belt use according to research.

The seatbelt on obese persons is being pushed forward

The seatbelt on obese persons is being pushed forward. Thus, it is slack and is dangerous in the event of a crash. The belt has to push away all the fats before it can slow down a person during an accident.

Moreover, a study shows that many obese drivers are not using a seatbelt at all. It is believed that the more a person weighs, the less likely to wear a seatbelt. The main reason is that obese people find it difficult to wear a seatbelt properly. It is also hard to find ones that fit.

>>> Find out: Wearing a seatbelt, to avoid fine or save a life?

What are the risks of an obese person being injured in an accident?

According to research, the larger the BMI, the greater the risk of injuries in an accident. The injuries can vary from upper extremity to lower extremity. Spinal injuries can also be experienced.

The knee bolster is used to absorb energy during a frontal crash. With obese persons, this part is required to do more work. Obese individuals are much heavier, so it requires more power to stop them. If the belt is not fitted well, the force will be on the knee bolster.

According to research, the larger the BMI, the greater the risk of injuries in an accident

The load sharing between the seat belt and knee bolster is not equal. This event results in an increased risk of injuries to the lower extremities such as feet and ankle.

These injuries may not be life-threatening but can lead to long term or permanent disability. It can cost a lot more money and suffer to a person.

Unbelted obese commuters can also be a risk to a driver. They can slam into the driver, especially when they are seated behind them. This can cause significant injury to the driver.

Several studies show that obese persons are not that safe under the wheel

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What are the tips on how to stay safe on the wheel despite your size?

Make it a habit to wear a seatbelt as always. Ensure that your passengers wear it too.

Ensure that your seatbelt is fitted properly. It should be fitted tight cross your shoulder and low cross your lap. For pregnant women, place the belt lap portion underneath her soft tissue.

Ask the car manufacturer if you need an extender for your seatbelt. If they don't offer one, ask what is compatible with your vehicle's model. Extenders are the best option for obese persons since they are not comfortable with the regular seatbelts.

Make it a habit to wear a seatbelt as always

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What are the things to consider in choosing a new car?

Safety first. Make sure that you can fasten up the seatbelt of the car properly. Many car makers offer seat belt extenders or a longer installed belt.

Look also for a vehicle with a big "crush" space. It is the area between the steering part and the seat. It acts as a cushion during an accident and helps absorb a certain crush force.

Obese drivers are more vulnerable to injury during an accident when there is less crush space. Select a vehicle that enables you to be seated in allows you to sit in a safe and secure driving position.

The ideal position when driving is having seated with 10 to 12 inches between the driver's breastbone and steering wheel. If a driver is too close to the wheel, it can affect steering and cause fatigue. It also places the driver more risk for an airbag injury.

Obese drivers are more vulnerable to injury during an accident when there is less crush space

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Look for a bigger and heavier vehicle. Bigger vehicles come with long front ends and long crash areas. The crash force will be lower on passengers if the crush areas are longer.

People in large and heavy cars will experience better during crashes rather than people in small and light cars.

Buy a vehicle that has a good safety rating. Consider the latest vehicle that can offer warning systems. This can make the life of an obese driver easier because you will be warned ahead of time.