“Headrests can go a long way toward reducing neck injuries in the event of a rear-end collision,” stated Buzz Rodland, chairman of the American International Automobile Dealers Association in Alexandria, Virginia. “But they’re only effective when positioned correctly relative to the driver’s head.”

Because 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, a correctly positioned headrest should meet two 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 stand directly behind the driver’s head,
at ear level. In the event of whiplash, the headrest should contact your head first, not the neck.

“Automakers are doing a much better job of designing safe headrests, but it’s still very important that motorists take the time to manually adjust them,” Rodland said. “Far too many people are driving with headrests in the lowest possible position, and as a result, they aren’t getting any of the safety benefits.”
For more information on proper headrest adjustment, or to learn about your vehicle’s headrest safety rating, visit www.aiada.org/headrestsafety.

Copyright 2004 * National Safety Council * All Rights Reserved. Reviewed 5/05.

For more information on reducing risk or any of our other services, please contact Jeff Harrison at jeff.harrison@cbservices.org or 800.807.0300 ext 2543

Copyright National Safety Council, All Rights Reserved. Information and recommendations are compiled from sources believed to be reliable. The National Safety Council makes no guarantee as to and assumes no responsibility for the correctness, sufficiency or completeness of such information or recommendations. Other or additional safety measures may be required under particular circumstances