Head restraints

Head restraints


Head restraints are extensions of vehicle seats. They're those things that most people think of as headrests, but that's not really their primary function; they were actually designed to restrict head movement during a rear-impact collision. In doing so, they reduce the chance of neck and shoulder injury. They're an important (though often overlooked) safety feature, and, since 1969, cars have been federally mandated to have head restraints in the front seating positions.

Most vehicles contain head restraints that are of the manually adjustable variety. Under current federal law, head restraints must be adjustable to 27.5 inches above a vehicle's seating reference point (defined by a test machine placed in the seat). This regulation governs the stature of the head restraint when it's at its highest — in the "up" position.

The necessary first attribute of an effective head restraint is good geometry. If a head restraint isn't behind and close to the back of an occupant's head, it can't prevent a "whiplash" injury in a rear-end collision. Institute researchers regularly evaluate the geometry of head restraints in passenger vehicles based on the height and backset relative to an average-size male. A restraint should be at least as high as the head's center of gravity, or about 9 centimeters (3.5 inches) below the top of the head. The backset, or distance behind the head, should be as small as possible. Backsets of more than 10 centimeters (about 4 inches) have been associated with increased symptoms of neck injury in crashes.

How to adjust head restraints
Every time you get in your car, buckle up and make sure your head restraint is raised high enough to cushion the back of your head. Set it no lower than your ears. If your head restraint is too low, you could get serious whiplash injuries in a rear-end collision, even at slower speeds. Have your passengers do the same.

In previous studies, IIHS found that restraints in about four of five passenger vehicles have to be manually adjusted upward to protect many occupants. But such restraints often are not adjusted and instead are left in the lowest position, where they can’t provide many occupants with whiplash protection in rear-end crashes.


More Info:
Head Restraints (Part II)

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