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Neck injuries are reported by drivers in more than one in five rear-impact crashes. And although studies show that proper adjustment of a head restraint can prevent neck injuries, many of us don’t take the time – or don’t know how – to adjust our head restraints.
Five Simple Steps to
Adjust Your Head Restraint
Next time you get in the car, follow these simple steps to help protect yourself from neck injuries:
- Whether you’re the driver or passenger, check out your head restraint before getting into the car. Get to know how it works. Does it adjust up and down? Does it tilt? Does it lock into place? This will help you find the best position for you.
- Once you’re in the car, be sure your seat back is in an upright and comfortable driving or sitting position.
- Facing forward, reach behind you to adjust the height of your head restraint. In the optimal position, the top of the head restraint should be as high as the top of your head and no lower than 2 ½” below the top of your head. If your restraint locks into position, make sure it is locked in after you’ve found the right height for you.
- Still facing forward, feel how close the head restraint is to your head. In the optimal position, it should be as close as possible to the back of your head, no farther than 2 ½” away. If your restraint tilts, this can help you find the right distance. Adjusting the height of your seat can help too.
- To be sure you’ve positioned your head restraint properly, you or someone in the car with you can use a ruler to measure the height and distance.
It’s important to note that not all adjustable head restraints can be locked into place or positioned properly for all drivers. In these cases, do everything you can to protect yourself, such as adjusting your seat back to achieve proper head restraint position.
Facts about head restraints and neck injuries
- Nearly two million rear-impact vehicle crashes occur each year. Industry data shows that more than 20 percent of drivers in rear-impact crashes report neck injuries.
- A 1999 IIHS study of rear-end crashes shows that the risk of neck pain can be reduced by more than 40 percent when a head restraint is properly positioned.
- A recent Progressive survey found that:
- Only 14 percent of drivers know the optimal positioning of a head restraint.
- 40 percent of drivers do not adjust their head restraint when driving a newly purchased vehicle.
- 18 percent of drivers think all vehicles come with head restraints already properly positioned
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