Dealers' safety advice on testWhiplash prevention

We asked: ‘I’ve heard about “active” head restraints. What are they and does this car have them?’

What you need to know about whiplash prevention

So-called ‘active’ head restraints are sometimes used by manufacturers to reduce the load applied to the seat occupant’s head and neck.

Some are mechanical (‘reactive’), using the momentum of your body being forced back into the seat to push the headrest to support your head. Others are pyrotechnically powered, in the same way as airbags, for example.

Sadly, many dealers didn't know what we were asking for. ‘They're on bigger cars like Mercedes,’ said a Peugeot dealer. But one of the Nissan dealers we visited demonstrated this feature on the Qashqai: ‘You've got active head restraints.

The way that works is when [your body] pushes in there, this bit comes forward to meet your head.’

What we discovered about whiplash prevention

With 250,000 cases of whiplash reported in the UK every year, it’s a costly area for the insurance industry.

That’s why motor insurance research centre Thatcham tests the front seats of almost all new cars for their ability to protect against whiplash, by simulating a typical rear-end smash.

Although active head restraints can reduce whiplash, it's more important to find a seat that rates highly in the Thatcham tests – visit www.thatcham.org/ncwr to see the latest results.

For instance, Volvo’s headrests aren't active but the front seats have an effective whiplash protection system (‘Whips’) as standard. Saab head restraints tend to score well, while Honda’s latest Civic and CR-V are also praised for their much improved headrests.

If you're worried about whiplash injury but you're not buying a new car, the best way to reduce the risk is to ensure your head is level with the middle of your headrest – you may need to adjust the headrest for each driver.

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