| Car manufacturers are not doing enough to help | | | | effects of whiplash. However this is a challenge, as |
| protect against whiplash. Statistics show that in | | | | there is no one sizes fits all and an effective headrest |
| America a rear-end crash occurs every 17 seconds. | | | | and seat needs to accommodate people of all |
| One of the most common injuries sustained in these | | | | different shapes and sizes. In addition there needs to |
| types of accidents is whiplash. Whiplash occurs when | | | | be flexibility in the system to allow people to tailor the |
| the force of an impact causes a person's head to | | | | headrests to their needs, so that they get the |
| move rapidly forward and then snap back. This action | | | | maximum benefit. This is especially important for tall |
| can hyperextend the neck and damage the nerves | | | | people, who are at a higher risk of suffering severe |
| and ligaments, resulting in ongoing pain and stiffing of | | | | whiplash injuries. |
| the neck. Whiplash can occur even if a crash takes | | | | While the car manufacturers need to ensure that the |
| place at low speeds of around ten miles per hour. | | | | vehicles they produce are as safe as they can be, |
| The good news is that a lot can be done to protect | | | | drivers and passengers need to do their bit as well. |
| against whiplash injuries. One simple way would be to | | | | Most head rests are adjustable and correct positioning |
| install adequate head rests and seatbacks for all | | | | will help prevent severe whiplash. The problem is that |
| passengers, which can reduce the effects of whiplash | | | | most people do not know how to alter their headrest, |
| by providing support to the head. However car | | | | or what the best position is. In addition many people |
| manufacturers seem reluctant to spend money in this | | | | don't have the time to change their headrest, or don't |
| area, as most car safety reports focus on other areas | | | | even think that it can help them if they had an accident. |
| of importance, most likely because whiplash injuries are | | | | Education is required to help drivers and passengers |
| very rarely fatal. | | | | understand the value of making sure that their head |
| But although the injuries may not be fatal they can still | | | | rest is currently positioned before driving, just like they |
| cause a lot of discomfort and may result in vertebrate | | | | ensure they put on their seatbelt. |
| in the neck fracturing and ligaments becoming severed. | | | | Cars produced in 2009 will have to meet new federal |
| Later on in life accident victims may suffer from | | | | requirements which concentrate on reducing neck |
| arthritis in the neck as a result of the injury. Every year | | | | injuries. This rule came in 2005 and aims to bring |
| in America around two million claims for whiplash are | | | | American car manufacturers up to the standards of |
| filed, with roughly 10 percent of these injuries so | | | | their European counter parts. Hopefully this will force |
| serious that they will result in long term damage. | | | | the car industry to realise that whiplash can be a life |
| Car manufacturers need to pay more attention to | | | | changing injury and more needs to be done to prevent |
| developing headrests and seats that will minimise the | | | | it from occurring. |