It's no secret that being overweight carries extra health risks.
According to Cancer Research UK, obesity and carrying too much weight is the biggest cause of cancer after tobacco smoking.
In 2022, it was reported by the UK government that 63 percent of adults were obese or at least overweight. This means that there are about 35 million individuals in the UK who need to lose weight or risk health consequences.
If you have a BMI of over 30 you are medically obese, and worryingly, more than a quarter of UK adults are. Understanding the health risks is one thing, but you might not have considered how obesity might affect you on the road.
When someone who is obese gets behind the wheel of a car, there could be added danger.
Are obese drivers more dangerous?
Being overweight won't automatically make you a danger on the roads, but there are many aspects to look at.
Firstly, someone who is morbidly obese might have problems operating a vehicle safely due to size constraints, and at the least, they might damage the driver's seat. But, there are genuine dangers to obese drivers, their passengers, and to others on the road.
A study looked at fatal motor vehicle accidents in Finland and concluded that 11% of them were caused by a disease attack. Any driver who is obese could suffer a heart attack brought on by their weight and cause a collision.
Are some vehicles better for bigger drivers?
It could be that the model of car and the driver are simply not a good match. There are many cars for fat people that would be safer and easier to drive.
Bigger drivers should be looking at models that have spacious front leg room, front hip room, and front headroom. The average driver might not be too worried about these areas, but something like the Kia Optima or the Chevrolet Suburban would fit the bill.
The Chevrolet Suburban has 45.3 inches of front legroom which the Kia Optima just beats at 45.5 inches. Both cars, therefore, have ample front leg room. The Kia Optima also has 39.8 inches of front headroom.
The Cadillac Escalade has generous cabin space throughout the vehicle and is very suited to tall or overweight drivers.
Why are obese drivers a danger to others and themselves?
As mentioned above, obese drivers are running all manner of health risks as well as their vehicles, and when they get behind the wheel they could present a danger to others.
Sudden disease attack
If a stroke or heart attack occurred to a driver it could cause a pileup or at least some form of car collision.
Increased likelihood of fatality in a crash
Studies have revealed that someone with a BMI score of 30 to 35 was 20 percent more likely to die during a car accident than someone not overweight.
A BMI of 40 or over leads to an 80% higher chance of dying if involved in a car accident.
Safety tests don't take into account obesity
Typical car crash dummies weigh around 77 kilograms, and these are used to improve safety efficiency in cars before they are approved for sale. The problem here is that obesity is more common today, and 77 kg isn't representative of every driver.
You can never be too safe driving fast cars, and manufacturers are constantly updating safety features that help drivers to control their vehicles better. But, the Hybrid III crash test dummy was introduced about 47 years ago, and the average weight of adults has risen in this time.
In 1976, the average adult male American weighed 172 pounds, but in 2014 that had risen to 195.7 pounds. This is a rise of about 10.7 kilograms, and there has been nearly a decade since then to see a further rise.
What can be done to combat the dangers of obesity and driving?
In reality, the health of any driver is down to that individual and their medical adviser. Having said this, a lifestyle change could see someone burn 1,000 calories daily leading to regular weight loss.
If you are obese and at risk of heart attack then you could take other transportation. Or, consider a more suitable vehicle.
And car manufacturers may have to reconsider safety tests to take into account the bigger drivers of today.
Summary
Obese drivers don't present imminent dangers on the road, but there are some obvious risks. Being overweight puts individuals at a higher risk of fatality in a car crash, and impacts their health in general.
A sudden disease attack such as a stroke could put passengers and other motorists in danger, and safety features on modern vehicles might not provide enough protection for someone who is obese.
With lifestyle changes though, anyone can reduce their weight and become a safer driver, and a change of vehicle might help too.
