Obese drivers are more likely to die in car crashes than other motorists, scientists have found.
Research shows fat people are propelled further forward during a collision because of their additional soft tissue which prevents a seat belt from tightening immediately against the pelvis.
Scientists now believe car design may have to change to protect overweight drivers.
Analysis of US collision data found those who were most overweight - in the World Health Organisation obesity category III - were 80% more likely to die in an accident than drivers of a healthy weight.
Those in category II were 51% more likely to be killed in a crash, while the risk was even lower for those in category I, at 21%.
When broken down by gender, obese women were found to be at greater risk than men. Those in obesity category III were almost twice as likely to die on the road than their male counterparts, the scientists said.
