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Background: Previously published statistical models of driving posture have been effective for vehicle design but have not taken into account the effects of age. Objective: The present study developed new statistical models for predicting driving posture. Methods: Driving postures of 90 U.S. drivers with a wide range of age and body size were measured in laboratory mockup in nine package conditions. Posture-prediction models for female and male drivers were separately developed by employing a stepwise regression technique using age, body dimensions, vehicle package conditions, and two-way interactions, among other variables. Results: Driving posture was significantly associated with age, and the effects of other variables depended on age. A set of posture-prediction models is presented for women and men. The results are compared with a previously developed model. Conclusion: The present study is the first study of driver posture to include a large cohort of older drivers and the first to report a significant effect of age. Application: The posture-prediction models can be used to position computational human models or crash-test dummies for vehicle design and assessment.

Objective: This study presents anthropometric data for individuals with high body mass index (BMI). Modified anthropometric dimensions were also developed to address the challenges of obtaining accurate and repeatable data for this population segment. Background: The prevalence of obesity affects approximately 40% of the U.S. adult population. Anthropometric data are needed to guide product design and safety, but few individuals with high BMI have been measured in available datasets. Method: Anthropometric data for a convenience sample of 288 adults with high BMI (≥30 kg/m2) were collected. To increase participation and minimize participant discomfort, measurements were collected at three bariatric weight loss clinics and one academic research institution. Results: The current obese cohort are heavier than the U.S. general population, with a difference in mean body weight of 47 kg for women and 56 kg for men. The obese cohort are also heavier and have a higher BMI compared with the NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) truck driver population. Waist circumferential measures of the current obese cohort were larger than women or men in either population compared, a result indicative of meaningful body shape differences. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this study is the first to collect anthropometric data for the obese population segment and conduct comparisons to the U.S. general population and available occupational databases. The obese cohort differed substantially with respect to the distributions of anthropometric variables. Application: These data provide insights about the obese population segment that are relevant to product design, and establish a foundation for future data collection efforts.