The Department of Road Transport (RDW) commissioned the SWOV Institute for Road Safety Research to provide an update of an earlier report on the effect of head rests (See IRRD 268010). The update was requested in order to assess whether the Netherlands would be in favour of a measure to make head rests in passenger cars compulsory. Such legislation is also being considered by the European Community. A case is made for more research into the magnitude and severity of the specific whiplash problem, including the long-term effects. Recent Dutch observations show that although head rests have been installed in virtually 100% of cars for some considerable time, they are frequently incorrectly used. A minimum head rest of 85 cm is required in order to adequately protect at least 95% of all Dutch men and women. It is estimated that the resultant effect of head rests will still be of the same order of magnitude (25%) as was measured originally. Making head rests compulsory will neither cause major additional costs, nor offer additional benefits, as long as the problem of the limitation in height adjustment is not solved. The main solution to the problem is to ensure that the head rest cannot be used incorrectly.
Abstract