Large as life: American crash test dummies beef up to better reflect reality

Crash test dummies are undergoing a makeover to reflect the thicker waistlines and larger rear ends of Americans. Dummies are now typically modeled after a person who weighs about 167 pounds with a healthy body mass index. Humanetics, the only U.S. producer of the dummies, is designing new models based on the measurements of a 270-pound person with a BMI of 35, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as other health groups, consider morbidly obese. With more than 70 percent of Americans now either overweight or obese, according to the CDC, company executives said the death risk for obese people in cars is a serious problem that must be addressed.

It does seem reasonable to utilize test dummies that have different body types to see if it has an impact on injury types and severity.

Dr. Mark Reiter, American Academy of Emergency Medicine president

Americas crash test