Head restraints
Discontinued test
Head restraints are important for preventing neck injury. Our dynamic test consisted of a simulated rear impact similar to a stationary vehicle being struck at 20 mph by a vehicle of the same weight.
How the test was run
Before testing head restraints, we measured them to make sure they were high enough and close enough to an average-size male’s head to perform well. If a head restraint had good or acceptable geometry, it was put through the dynamic test. For the simulated impact, the vehicle’s seat was placed on the testing rig, and a BioRID dummy was placed in the seat.
How vehicles were evaluated
- Head restraint height and backset were factored in.
- We measured how quickly the head contacted the head restraint and the dummy's torso acceleration during the impact.
- The dummy also recorded maximum neck shear force and maximum neck tension.
Why we stopped conducting this test
We discontinued the head restraint test after almost all models began earning good ratings. IIHS researchers are developing a more challenging test to help drive further improvements.
Head restraint evaluation protocols and technical information
For details on other current and discontinued tests, visit the About our tests page.