ANSWERS: 1
  • <h4 class="dechead">On One Hand: When Positioned Correctly, Headrests are Effective

    Head rests, or head restraints, are for primarily for safety. They move a person's head forward in rear-end collisions and decrease chance of whiplash, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) suggests that the bulk of a headrest should stand directly behind the driver's head at ear level. The American International Automobile Dealers Association says that when a headrest is positioned correctly relative to the driver's head, it can dramatically reduce neck injuries in a rear-end collision. Several IIHS studies, including one from 2008, showed a properly positioned and good-quality headrest resulted in an injury rate 15 percent lower than the rate from those containing poor-quality headrests.

    On the Other: Many Drivers Use Headrests Incorrectly

    According to the NHTSA, a headrest should be positioned two inches or less from the rear of the driver's head, and never more than four inches. The NHTSA says that up to 90 percent of people have their headrest adjusted too low. Low positioning renders a headrest ineffective and possibly dangerous in an accident.

    Bottom Line

    Headrests do work and prevent injuries in car accidents. Drivers, however, should position the headrest correctly for it to be effective and do its job. Additionally, the IIHS says that older cars' headrests are harder to adjust, but newer models have better-designed, safer headrests.

    Source:

    American International Automobile Dealers: Is Your Headrest Properly Positioned

    Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: Head restraints

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