Is soft tissue damage your goal?
By: Jack Nerad for Driving Today
Date: 2004-06-12
Most people understand how to use automobile safety devices like seat belts, airbags, and car seats properly. Some people can even program a VCR to record shows every week, and still others can dance the tango while chewing gum. But statistics suggest the majority of drivers are clueless when it comes to the proper positioning of headrests. In fact, studies show that 90 percent of drivers have their headrests adjusted too low. The results can be tragic.
"Headrests can go a long way toward reducing neck injuries in the event of a rear-end collision," said Buzz Rodland, chairman of the American International Automobile Dealers Association. "But they're only effective when positioned correctly relative to the driver's head."
Hence the term "headrest," we figure. The AIADA suggests it is primetime for some serious headrest adjusting, since rear-end collisions are more likely to occur in slippery road conditions. Now is a good time to ensure that your headrest is properly positioned.
According to research conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a correctly positioned headrest should meet the following criteria: Headrests should ideally be positioned two inches or less from the rear of the driver's head and never more than four inches. When adjusting for height, the bulk of the headrest should sit directly behind the driver's head, at ear level. In the event of whiplash, the headrest should contact your head first.
Unfortunately, in many older model vehicles, proper headrest adjustment is difficult if not impossible. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, in 1995 only three percent of vehicles had head restraints rated "good," while an astonishing 82 percent were rated "poor." Since then, there has been a marked improvement in overall standards. In the 2003 model year, 45 percent of vehicle head restraint systems were rated "good," while only 10 percent of systems were rated "poor." Others were either unrated or PG-13.
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