[TeeZee]

I thought the head rests were supposed to be adjusted so they're close to your head at about ear level to help mitigate chances of whiplash in the event of a rear end collision?

from the IIHS study AF-RX8 posted:

Importance of a good seat/head restraint: When a vehicle is struck in the rear and driven forward, the vehicle seats accelerate occupants' torsos forward. Unsupported, the occupants' heads will lag behind the forward movement of their torsos. This differential motion causes the neck to bend back and stretch. The higher the torso acceleration the more sudden the motion, the higher the forces on the neck, and the more likely a neck injury is to occur.

"The key to reducing whiplash injury risk is to keep the head and torso moving together," Lund explains. "To ensure they move together, a seat and head restraint have to work in concert to support an occupant's neck and head, accelerating them with the torso as the vehicle is driven forward following a rear impact. To accomplish this, the geometry of the head restraint has to be adequate, and so do the stiffness characteristics of the vehicle seat."

A head restraint should extend at least as high as the center of gravity of the head of the tallest expected occupant. A restraint also should be positioned close to the back of an occupant's head so it can contact the head and support it early in a rear-end crash.

"If a head restraint isn't positioned behind an occupant's head, it cannot support the head in a rear impact," Lund adds. "But good head restraint geometry by itself isn't sufficient. A seat also has to be designed so it doesn't rotate backward in a rear impact because this would move the head restraint away from the head. At the same time, a vehicle seat cannot be too stiff. It has to 'give' so an occupant will sink into it, moving the head closer to the restraint. The new evaluation criteria take into account both static restraint geometry and the dynamic performance of seats and head restraints together in tests."

 

[cwsqbm]

Am I the only one that actually uses the headrest to rest my head on when driving ?

I never use it while driving. I've tried, but it doesn't feel right. Of course, the times I really want to is when I shouldn't, say after a full day of driving and I need a little help holding my head up (and my eyes open.)

 

[kd2789mo]

from the IIHS study AF-RX8 posted:

Importance of a good seat/head restraint: When a vehicle is struck in the rear and driven forward, the vehicle seats accelerate occupants' torsos forward. Unsupported, the occupants' heads will lag behind the forward movement of their torsos. This differential motion causes the neck to bend back and stretch. The higher the torso acceleration the more sudden the motion, the higher the forces on the neck, and the more likely a neck injury is to occur.

"The key to reducing whiplash injury risk is to keep the head and torso moving together," Lund explains. "To ensure they move together, a seat and head restraint have to work in concert to support an occupant's neck and head, accelerating them with the torso as the vehicle is driven forward following a rear impact. To accomplish this, the geometry of the head restraint has to be adequate, and so do the stiffness characteristics of the vehicle seat."

A head restraint should extend at least as high as the center of gravity of the head of the tallest expected occupant. A restraint also should be positioned close to the back of an occupant's head so it can contact the head and support it early in a rear-end crash.

"If a head restraint isn't positioned behind an occupant's head, it cannot support the head in a rear impact," Lund adds. "But good head restraint geometry by itself isn't sufficient. A seat also has to be designed so it doesn't rotate backward in a rear impact because this would move the head restraint away from the head. At the same time, a vehicle seat cannot be too stiff. It has to 'give' so an occupant will sink into it, moving the head closer to the restraint. The new evaluation criteria take into account both static restraint geometry and the dynamic performance of seats and head restraints together in tests."

Active Head Restraints.

I keep them positioned that my head lightly rests on them. It took some getting used to, but now, I miss it when driving another vehicle. I also move them back slightly, away from contact, when wearing a cap.

 

[cruztopless]

As the driver I never rest my head on the headrest. I do, however, like it to be close but not touching. As a passenger I use it a lot ... to rest. Sure is 100 times better then our Integra which has those dumb holes in the headrest. Sure isn't comfortable when I want to take a nap.

 

[Mike@Modbargains]

Only time I use my headrest is if I am in traffic or stopped at a traffic light and wanna close my eyes for a few seconds while I am stopped. I'll lean back and rest my head to try and relax cause I hate traffic! But as far as normal driving goes, I find myself never using the headrest, but this is probably because I do not have it adjusted forward. If I put my head on the headrest, I can't see anything out my rear-view mirror since it is adjusted for my head being more forward.

 

[Matthew330Ci]

they're not headrests, they're head restraints.

i don't lean against it because it's uncomfortable.

 

[Pinecone]

they're not headrests, they're head restraints.

EXACTLY.

The biggest problem I see is that people do not adjust them properly. The major part of the head restraint should be positioned behind the middle of the back of the head, not down by the neck. It should be no more than a couple of inches behind the head. But if your head is resting against it, then you lose quick mobility of your head to look around.

Also you are more likely to NOT move your head to look around which is not a good thing.

It is funny (not really, more like scary) in the M3 how many people you can "sneak" up on since they are NOT looking around them. So anything that reduces your scan is not a good thing.

 

[PABS]

Like he said they are head restriants not headrests....jeez people learn to use the tools at your disposal.

 

[·clyde·]

I've had this discussion before on another forum anout anohter car but in general, yes it is a safety device but it is also a comfort thing as well. If it weren't they would make them tilt, they would be fixed ...

WTF?! The height and tilt adjustments make them better fits for more people if they are adjusted properly. That's like saying seat belts are a comfort thing. If they weren't, they wouldn't let them extend, they would be fixed.

 

[jw]

I use the headrest all the time - tilted all the way forward. Having had surgery on my neck it really helps support the weight and provides some cushioning of the road. When shopping around for my latest car, this type of tilt-foward headreest was becoming a must-have. My CTS has it.

 

[AF]

WTF?! The height and tilt adjustments make them better fits for more people if they are adjusted properly. That's like saying seat belts are a comfort thing. If they weren't, they wouldn't let them extend, they would be fixed.

Not you again !?!?

 

[PABS]

I've seen people put the shuolder belt under their arm because they claim it's more comofortable. Obviuosly this defeats the purpose of the safety device called seat belt.

You can also make this argument for baby seats that are not belted in corrctly. Or how about just wearing tha safety glasses on your head.

Bottom line..use the safety device as it was intended.

 

[AF]

Bottom line..use the safety device as it was intended.

So going on this basis ... what are you saying the Headrest/restraint is intended for ... only to prevent whiplash ?

And if so, then why are they made in a comforting manner in many cars ...

 

[Andy]

WTF?! The height and tilt adjustments make them better fits for more people if they are adjusted properly. That's like saying seat belts are a comfort thing. If they weren't, they wouldn't let them extend, they would be fixed.

I've seen people put the shuolder belt under their arm because they claim it's more comofortable. Obviuosly this defeats the purpose of the safety device called seat belt.

You can also make this argument for baby seats that are not belted in corrctly. Or how about just wearing tha safety glasses on your head.

Bottom line..use the safety device as it was intended.

Is comfort and safety mutually exclusive? Can a safety feature also provide comfort? What is comfortable for one person might not be for another.

The head rests / head restraints are primarily there for safety, I think everyone will agree on that, but they can also provide comfort without sacrificing the safety. So what are you trying to debate here? :dunno:

 

[doeboy]

And if so, then why are they made in a comforting manner in many cars ...

Marketing? Instead of a "boring" safety device, marketers make it look like an extra feature by calling it a "comfort" device called a headrest instead? That and I don't think you'd want to have your head hit something that's not soft and cushiony in case it were to happen.

 

[PABS]

Is comfort and safety mutually exclusive? Can a safety feature also provide comfort? What is comfortable for one person might not be for another.

The head rests / head restraints are primarily there for safety, I think everyone will agree on that, but they can also provide comfort without sacrificing the safety. So what are you trying to debate here? :dunno:

The point is that some safety devices are not comfortable, they wouldn't work if you did. Case in point, seat belts.

I don't like to shoulder belt cutting across the top of my shoulder, but I tolerate it for safety purposes.

As far as the head restraint they are there to prevent some one's hard head from snapping back in case of a collision and thus breaking their neck.

The proper way to adjust the headrest if to raise it and then tilted forward such that it is barely touching the back of your head. It is not meant to rest your head on it will driving.

 

[·clyde·]

The point is that some safety devices are not comfortable, they wouldn't work if you did. Case in point, seat belts.

I don't like to shoulder belt cutting across the top of my shoulder, but I tolerate it for safety purposes.

In some cases, it depends on the car/driver combination. The belts in the Touring and the RX-8 are not uncomfortable at all. They don't dig in in an annoying manner or anything. The 89 Buick LeSabre with the belt anchors in the door, OTOH...the "shoulder" portion rubs the side of my face/neck as it's a couple inches away from my body by the point where it would get to my shoulder. The lap portion on the door side would do little to restrain me before sliding a good bit in that direction.

I still do not understand how those "passive restraint" type belts (door mounted) were ever allowed to be produced. The safety they would appear to offer in a collision seems significantly worse than the regular 3 point belts that were anchored in the proper location that came before the asinine federal passive restraint regulation that allowed passive belts to be used in lieu of airbags took effect and get in the way so much (particularly when looking over your left shoulder) that I wouldn't be surprised if some people that would have otherwise worn belts didn't use those.

 

[AF]

It is not meant to rest your head on it will driving.

I would like to know where you are getting this information from ... where is it written that the headrest is not to rest your head on ... seriously, do you have a link or something to prove this because I think you are definitely wrong.

 

[Pinecone]

Not MEANT to be, doesn't mean you can't use it so.

My problem is, that when you head is resting like that, you aren't likely to move your head to look around. Coupled with improper mirror adjustment, means that you do not have a clear picture of what is going on around you.

 

[PABS]

I would like to know where you are getting this information from ... where is it written that the headrest is not to rest your head on ... seriously, do you have a link or something to prove this because I think you are definitely wrong.

It is obviuos you haven't been well informed about such things...so no more discussion with you :thumbdwn: