A Simple Adjustment Can Reduce Pain and Cost of Neck Injuries, But New Survey Shows Drivers Don't Understand the Importance of Head Restraint Positioning

NEW YORK, Aug. 13 -- Each year there are nearly two million rear-impact vehicle crashes. Industry data show that more than 20 percent of drivers in rear-impact crashes report neck injuries. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), neck injuries cost the auto insurance industry, and ultimately consumers, more than $7 billion a year.

And while research has also shown properly-positioned head restraints can significantly reduce such injuries, a new survey from Progressive has found the following:

* Only 14 percent of drivers know the optimal head restraint positioning;

* Eighteen (18) percent of drivers think all vehicles come with head restraints already properly positioned;

* Forty (40) percent of drivers don't adjust their head restraint when driving a newly-purchased vehicle;

* Thirteen (13) percent of drivers "have given no thought" to how high their head restraint should be to minimize neck injury.

"People should know that proper head restraint adjustment can not only help protect them from injury, but can also help lower the medical costs associated with accidents -- which can ultimately help keep the cost of insurance down for all consumers," said John Bindseil, medical claims manager for Progressive.