The Secret Behind Car Headrest Design That You Don't Know

When we sit in a car, we often think of the headrest as a part that helps create comfort. However, according to the US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the headrest not only provides comfort but also plays an important role in protecting the body, especially the neck, in the event of an accident.

According to a recent IIHS report shared on X (Twitter) , properly adjusting your seat head restraint can reduce the risk of neck injuries in the event of a crash, especially a rear-end collision. In fact, rear-end collisions are the most common type of car accident in the United States , and they are responsible for about 83 percent of neck injuries reported in auto insurance claims.

Research from the US National Library of Medicine also shows that, in the event of an accident, headrests can prevent injuries such as neck sprains, neck strains, and even more serious spinal injuries . However, many drivers do not pay attention to adjusting the headrests properly, even removing or rotating them because they feel uncomfortable. This increases the risk of injury when a collision occurs.

Headrests on car seats play a very important role in ensuring the safety of the occupants.

The headrest on a car seat plays a very important role in ensuring the safety and comfort of the occupants. In the event of a rear-end collision, the headrest will help to stabilize the head and neck, minimizing serious injuries such as whiplash. The headrest helps support the head and neck, helping you to sit upright, reducing tension in the neck and shoulder muscles, thereby reducing fatigue when sitting for a long time.

How headrests work in a crash

When a car is hit from behind, the car is pushed forward, and the body of the person sitting in it moves with the seat due to inertia. However, if the head is not supported by the headrest, it will fall backwards, causing whiplash – a type of injury in which the neck is suddenly bent and stretched.

To prevent this, the head and torso must move together during a crash. This can only be achieved if the head restraint is high enough and positioned close to the occupant's head. The IIHS recommends that the height of the head restraint be at or above the top of the occupant's head, and that the distance from the head restraint to the occupant's head be minimized as much as possible. The structure of the seat and the stiffness of the head restraint must also be designed to work together to effectively protect the neck and head in a crash.

The headrest is designed to be soft, helping you relax and rest better while traveling. Using the headrest properly helps reduce health problems related to the cervical spine such as pain, numbness.

Adjust the headrest properly

For the headrest to function optimally, it is important to adjust it correctly. If your car has an adjustable headrest, raise it so that the top of the headrest is level with the top of your head. For tall people, if the headrest cannot reach the top of your head, raise it to its highest position . Conversely, if you are short, you may not need to adjust much.

Additionally, to ensure that the headrest is always close to the back of your head, you can also adjust the seat's recline angle accordingly. Some models also offer the ability to adjust the headrest forward and backward, helping the occupant find the safest and most comfortable headrest position.

You can also adjust the reclining angle of the seat to suit.

Headrests are usually made from soft materials such as foam, fabric or leather to create a comfortable feeling when resting the head. The material used must ensure high durability to withstand impacts during use. Some headrest models can adjust the tilt angle to suit the user's sitting position, increasing comfort.

Note when driving

One of the common but very dangerous habits is that many people like to flip or remove the headrest because it feels cumbersome, especially those with long hair, ponytails or using hair clips. However, this action can lead to serious injury in the event of a rear-end collision. Plastic claw clips, if worn behind the head while driving, can also become a factor causing additional injury. Therefore, regardless of your hairstyle, make sure that the headrest is always adjusted properly to provide the best protection in emergency situations.

Don't overlook the importance of properly adjusting your headrest.

The middle part of the headrest is usually designed to be concave to hug the nape of the neck, helping to stabilize the head and minimize sudden movements in the event of a collision. The two sides of the headrest are usually raised to support the head and limit side-to-side movement. Most modern headrests can be adjusted in height to suit the height of each person, ensuring optimal protection. The height of the headrest is usually designed to comply with international safety standards, to ensure effective protection in different collision situations.

Car seat headrests , while often overlooked or improperly adjusted, are an important factor in protecting occupants from serious injury in a collision. Don't overlook the importance of properly adjusting your headrests – they're one of the simplest yet most important factors in keeping you and your loved ones safe on every trip.