Do you know the right position for your head restraint?

Two out of three drivers don’t know how to correctly position the head restraints in their vehicle, or wrongly think that the top of the restraint should be level with your neck or ears, a survey by Brake, the road safety charity, and Direct Line Insurance has found.

The remaining one in three said, correctly, that the top of the restraint should be level with the top of your head, to protect your head and stop your neck ‘hyper-extending’ backwards in a crash – potentially breaking it or giving you other severe injuries.

Two out of three respondents also said they never or rarely checked their restraints.  Only one in seven claimed to always check.  Furthermore, only 6% of drivers who took part in the survey both knew how to correctly position their head restraints and regularly checked them.

According to Brake:

  • If you don't have a head restraint, or an inadequate one that doesn't reach the top of your head, change your vehicle because your neck is not protected.
  • Adjust your seat so it is upright, not in a reclined position, allowing the head restraint to be as close to the back of your head as possible, ideally touching it.  This might mean also moving your seat backwards, away from the steering wheel.
  • Adjust your head restraint so that its top is level with the top of your head.
  • Ensure the head restraint is securely fastened and won't fall down.
  • If your head restraint is broken, get it fixed.


Mary Williams OBE, the Brake chief executive said:  “Even if drivers did regularly check their head restraint, the research shows us that most wouldn’t have a clue if it was correct or not, which probably explains why they don’t bother.  There needs to be a major awareness-raising campaign on this life-saving, simple measure that we can all take.

"Incorrect head restraints result in death, permanent disability, and in the more minor cases excruciating back and neck pain. Yet it only takes a couple of seconds to check and adjust your restraint and those of other occupants in your vehicle."