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Online car insurer, elephant.co.uk is advising all motorists
to check their head restraints to help reduce the risk of whiplash
after research by Thatcham, the Motor Insurance Repair Research
Centre found that 78% of motorists had their head restraints
positioned incorrectly.
If positioned right, they can considerably reduce the risk
of whiplash. elephant.co.uk advises they should be as high
as the top of the head and as close as possible to the back
of the head. They should also be locked in position to stop
them slipping down during journeys.
Head elephant at elephant.co.uk, Nicole Joyce said, "The UK has
the highest incidence of whiplash in Europe, this is despite us
having one of the best road safety records. So it is clear something
is going wrong. We want motorists to be aware just how common whiplash
is, but also how head restraints can prevent it."
Whiplash is most common in low speed, rear-end accidents. It occurs when
the head is propelled backwards after the accident,
compressing the neck into an 'S' shape. It is much more common
among women because they usually have less muscular necks
than men.
The symptoms of whiplash include headaches and stiff and sore
muscles in the upper back and neck. However it can lead to
painful, lifelong symptoms and in the worst cases, be debilitating.
Nicole Joyce, said, "Whiplash costs the insurance industry £1.6
billion each year and accounts for 20% of money paid out for
motor insurance claims. But the cost to the UK economy because
of lost workdays and long-term sickness is much higher. We
have to do something to reduce the cost to the country."
Issue date: 02/10/2003
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