20 March 2007
British drivers may not be making the simple adjustment required on their car's head restraint to negate the potential effects of a whiplash injury, new research reveals.
Figures released by Thatcham Insurance indicate that some 125,000 British drivers could be making themselves susceptible to injury by not altering their head rest, not to mention affecting their car insurance premiums.
Almost two thirds (63%) of British motorists are believed to have their head restraint set in the wrong position which can cause drivers to experience whiplash injuries.
Approximately 25,000 suffer from some kind of permanent disability as a result of the injuries incurred each year.
This comes despite there having been a vast improvement in the design of car seats, with 80% of European vehicles now being rated as good or acceptable in the event of a rear end impact.
"The manufacturers are doing their bit - now the public have got to wake up to whiplash," said Matthew Avery, Crash Lab Manager at Thatcham.