Understanding Whiplash Prevention Technology
Many automakers began implementing automobile safety features in the early 2000s. These features were designed to reduce the risk of whiplash or neck injury. This raises an important question: Is whiplash prevention technology effectively reducing automobile injuries?
Active Head Restraints Study
Whiplash prevention technology aims to reduce the risk of whiplash in rear-end crashes. The most effective goal is keeping the passenger’s head and torso moving together. Are these newer safety designs truly reducing neck injuries for car passengers?
Approaches to Improving Technology
Many studies, including one by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, have examined three separate approaches to improving this technology:
- Improvement to the geometry of the headrest, allowing it to be better-positioned behind and closer to the back of an occupant’s head.
- Active head restraints which aid in preventing neck injury by moving the head restraint up and forward in the event of a rear crash, supporting the head and absorbing impact.
- Seatback safety designs which allow them to yield in rear-end crashes to reduce the forward acceleration of occupants’ torsos.
Effectiveness of Active Head Restraints
Active head restraints proved to help reduce the risk of neck injury. They achieve this by supporting the head early and throughout its trajectory, which stops the malalignment of joints.
Insurance companies (Nationwide, Progressive, and State Farm) participating in the study supplied claim data. This data proved that neck injury claim rates reduced by 43% in Saab, General Motors, and Nissan models with active head restraints, compared to earlier models without the technology.
Areas for Improvement
Other whiplash prevention systems did not perform as well. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found that neck injury claim rates didn’t decrease with some seatback designs, such as Toyota’s whiplash injury lessening system.
neck injury claim rates didn’t decrease with some seatback designs
However, the IIHS has since been working with Toyota to improve these results.
Mixed Results for Head Restraint Geometry
Improved head restraint geometry, as seen in Ford's designs, showed mixed outcomes. There was a 37% claims reduction for women, but an 8% increase in men.
As automobile technology advances, so does the demand for safety and improvements. Stay tuned as McKenzie & Snyder continues to break down some solid facts to answer the question: Do newer automobile safety features increase passenger safety?
