The aims of this field study are to find out: (1) how much people know about whiplash and head rests; and (2) how head rests are positioned in passenger cars. Research was also carried out into the presence of seat belt height adjusters, and how they are used. The measurements were made in large Dutch car parks outside shopping centres and roadside restaurants, amongst others. In total 685 cars were included. The analysis covers 1,067 drivers and front-seat passengers aged 12 and over. Eighty percent of the male front-seat occupants proved to have their head rests set too low. On this point, the percentage of women at fault proved to be lower (48 percent) due to their average height. For 28 percent of front-seat occupants, the horizontal distance between head and head rest was incorrect. Car occupants proved to have an imperfect understanding of the correct positioning of head rests. This fact can be pointed to as the main cause of the frequent incorrect positioning. Their understanding of the function of the head rest, and the phenomenon of whiplash, can be viewed as adequate. Despite the fact that half of the cars in the survey had seat belt height adjusters, these adjusters were little used. See also C 7109.
Abstract