Abstract
Car occupants who had attended hospital after road traffic accidents during 6 months in 1982 and in 1983 were contacted by questionnaire between one and two years after their accident. Interviews were also conducted among former patients. The results confirm that neck pain occurs after impact from all directions but is disproportionately more common after collisions in which the impact is from the rear. There were significantly more neck sprains among those who had been wearing seat belts than those who had not. Head rests reduce the incidence of neck pain in rear impact accidents.