Beginning with vehicle model year 2010, FMVSS 202a established new requirements for head restraints in passenger vehicles. This study evaluates the effectiveness of head restraints in reducing cervical spine injuries, including whiplash injuries, for passenger vehicle occupants using NHTSA’s National Automotive Sampling System Crashworthiness Data System data from 2000 to 2015. The analysis found that female occupants were more likely to suffer cervical spine injuries in rear-end crashes than male occupants. Occupants in full rear-end crashes were more likely to report cervical spine injuries than occupants in partial or side rear-end crashes. The analysis found a statistically significant reduction of 11.1 percent in cervical spine injury protection for occupants in vehicles with head restraints compliant with FMVSS 202a, when compared to occupants in vehicles with a different head restraint or no head restraints. Furthermore, seating positions with FMVSS 202a-compliant head restraints were 10.9 percent more effective in preventing cervical spine injuries than seating positions with FMVSS 202-compliant head restraints.
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United States Department of Transportation
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