Car manufacturers have finally woken up to the dangers of whiplash injuries - but the British public aren’t yet using their heads to save their necks - claims a report from Thatcham the insurance research centre, because they have not adjusted their head restraints properly.
New figures show that the majority of car seats now offer passengers protection in the event of a rear end impact - with 80 per cent of new European vehicles rated as good or acceptable.
But a survey carried out by Thatcham shows that more than 63 % of drivers have their head restraint set in the wrong position - making them vulnerable to injury.
A staggering 250,000 of UK motorists receive whiplash injuries each year - with 25,000 suffering some form of permanent disability.
So the head restraint should be seen as every bit as important as the seat belt and the correct way to position your headrest is to make sure the top of the head restraint is level with or above the top of your head - and as close to the back of your head as possible.
This adjustment only takes a few seconds, so please make sure you do in order to avoid being one of those drivers who could suffer a whiplash injury each year.
Jackie violet