A new warning is being issued for overweight people: Drive at your own risk...

People who are significantly overweight have yet another risk to consider...

They are more likely to die in a car accident than drivers of a healthy weight. The added risk has to do with the seatbelt. Heavier people are propelled further forward in a collision because the soft abdominal tissue prevents the belt from tightening immediately. The driving danger would apply to heavy passengers as well.

Industry engineers are looking at possible safety features and seatbelt designs that could be added to better protect overweight drivers and passengers.