Car accident news

Car manufacturer reduces risk of whiplash claims

Swedish car-maker Saab has received commendations from motor testing company Thatcham for the ability of its head restraints to reduce neck injuries and the number of whiplash claims.

Thatcham carries out regular vehicle tests to see which models in its range are safest on the road. The 2006 results reveal that Swedish car manufacturers still regard whiplash neck injury prevention as a priority, including Saab.

The majority of Saab car models have whiplash-orientated systems but the majority of German cars, by comparison, do not. Saab was pivotal in bringing whiplash issues to the forefront of concerns in the motoring community and developed the Saab Active Head Restraints (SAHR) in 1996, now fitted as standard in all models of cars produced.

SAHR has been shown to reduce the incidence of whiplash in a car accident. With the SAHR, a padded head restraint is linked to a pressure plate in the seatback.

Rear-end impacts cause the pressure plate to send the head restraint upward and outward, catching the occupant's head.

When this happens, neck movement is restricted and the chance of a neck injury and a whiplash claim is reduced. The SAHR system is entirely mechanical and after activation, the head restraint automatically springs back to its passive position ready for future use.

The entire UK market Saab range was awarded top marks for protection against a neck personal injury. A neck personal injury after a car accident is still one of the most common physical problems reported after the event of a car crash.