The head restraints, not headrests, are designed to be close to your head so that in a rear-end collision, when your body naturally comes forward, the head restraint helps move your head forward with your body (By Ian Merritt/Cars.com)
Cars.com received a question about adjustable headrests: Why don't manufacturers allow adjustable headrests? So many newer cars and SUVs have headrests that tilt the driver's head forward.
I understand this is a safety feature, but several salespeople told me that owners either reverse the headrest or remove it completely. Doesn't that defeat the purpose of a headrest?
In response, Cars.com answered with information regarding federal safety rules as well as what the The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recommends.Adjustable headrests with a minimum in cars
The head restraints, not headrests, are designed to be close to your head so that in a rear-end collision, when your body naturally comes forward, the head restraint helps move your head forward with your body so you don't experience whiplash injuries. Active head restraints not only are positioned close to the back of the head but are designed to move up and forward and catch the head before it has a chance to accelerate on its way back.
Federal safety rules that phased in starting Sept. 1, 2009, and are now mandatory on all vehicles, require head restraints to be no more than 2.2 inches from the back of a front seat occupant's head. Previously, there was no minimum. Head restraints are not required for backseats, though many vehicles have them. For the 2012 model year, rear head restraints installed voluntarily by manufacturers will have to meet the same height requirements as front head restraints.
Most head restraints are height adjustable, and some allow a small amount of fore-aft adjustment. You are correct that reversing or removing them would defeat their purpose, but so would being able to adjust them so they are several inches behind your head. That would allow too much head movement that could result in neck or spinal injuries.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recommends that the distance from the back of the head to the restraint should be as small as possible. On seats without fore-aft-adjusting head restraints, this can be achieved by adjusting the seatback's recline angle. Safety experts also recommend that the top of head restraints be set at the top of your ears.
source : chicagotribune.com
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