Neck Injuries in Car Crash Tests
Posted by
Craig CannonApril 05, 2007 10:21 AMHead restraints in several passenger vehicles provided marginal or poor protection against neck injuries and whiplash, the insurance industry reported today in new crash test results. Only 22 of 75 vehicles tested in a simulated rear crash at 20 miles per hour received the top score of good from the Virginia-based Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The vehicles were tested on a crash simulation sled, replicating the forces in a stationary vehicle that is struck in the rear by a similar vehicle at 20 mph.
The vehicles that got the lowest test scores include: Acura TSX, some versions of the BMW 5 Series, Buick Lacrosse and Lucerne; Cadillac CTS, STS and DTS; Chevrolet Aveo, Pontiac Grand Prix, Honda Accord and Fit; Hyundai Accent, Infiniti M35, Jaguar X-Type, Kia Rio, Mitsubishi Galant, Toyota Avalon, Toyota Corolla, and the Suzuki Forenza and Reno.
The vehicles that got the best test scores include: Audi A4, A6 and S4; Chevrolet Cobalt, Ford Five Hundred and Mercury Montego; Hyundai Sonata, Jaguar S-Type, Kia Optima, Mercedes E-Class, Nissan Sentra and Versa; Saab 9-3, Subaru Impreza, Outback and Legacy; Volvo S40, S60, S80; the Honda Civic 2-door and 4-door versions and some versions of the Volkswagen New Beetle.
The crash tests also revelaed that a properly positioned head restriant could help reduce neck injuries in rear end car accidents. The vehicles that rated poorly on the tests did not have head retrainsts that could be properly positioned for diferent size drivers.