Adjust Your Car Headrest – It Could Save Your Life

The first thing you do when you get in a car is buckle your seatbelt. But how often do you think to adjust your headrest as well?

Reports show that headrests are one of the most overlooked safety features in vehicles today. Many of us don’t realize the important role they play in preventing neck, brain and spinal cord-related injuries.

“Headrests are designed to work with a seatbelt to prevent the head from twisting backwards during a collision,” explains Glenn Cooper from Aviva Canada. “Even at speeds as low as 15 kilometres per hour – the same speed as the average bicycle – drivers can get whiplash or other serious injuries if their headrests are not properly adjusted.”

Whiplash is the most common soft tissue injury that can occur during a collision. According to an Insurance Bureau of Canada study, only 14 per cent of drivers on the road have their headrest in the proper position.

Cooper suggests following these three simple steps to ensure yours is in a safe position:

Step 1: Adjust the top of the headrest to align with the top of your head;

Step 2: Position the centre of your headrest so that it is slightly above the top of your ear;

Step 3: Ensure that the distance between the headrest and the back of your head is between 5 – 10 centimetres.

If you share a car with multiple family members, be sure to adjust the headrest every time you drive.

newscanada.com