Insurance industry tests show that more than half of car seats do a poor job of preventing whiplash injury because of the way they are built.
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An Associated Press (AP) report said General Motors cars were among the worst performers in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety results released on Sunday while Volvo and Saab cars were among the best.
AP said the institute examined 97 seat and headrest combinations found in 88 cars now on the market and tested 73 of those seats in a 20 mph rear-impact crash to see how well they would protect an average-size male dummy.
Eight seats reportedly earned the institute’s highest rating, including those in the Volvo S40, S60 and S80, the Saab 9-2X [a Subaru Impreza derivative] and 9-3, and the Jaguar S-type.
Sixteen seats, including those in the Chevrolet Malibu and the Subaru Outback, got the second-highest rating of acceptable; 19 seats, including those in the Ford Focus and the Mini Cooper, earned the third-highest rating of marginal, the report added.
AP said the other 30 received the institute’s worst rating, poor, indicating the highest likelihood of neck injury in a rear-impact crash – among those were the seats in the Audi A4 and S4, the BMW 3 series, the Dodge Neon and the Jaguar X-type.
Associated Press said the institute did not test 24 seats – including those in the Buick Regal, Cadillac Seville, Acura RL and Volkswagen Passat – because it determined the headrests were designed in a way that would not protect taller people.
GM said in a statement cited by AP that it has been following the institute’s guidelines for placement of headrests and has led development of a headrest that moves according to the force of the crash.
GM also reportedly said occupants come in many sizes and sit in various positions in the vehicle and cautioned against making changes based on one test.
“If the test methods chosen are not reflective of reducing real-world harm, there could be significant potential to cause seat design changes that are directionally wrong,” GM told AP.
AP said that, in the best-performing cars, the seat was sturdy but had enough cushion so the occupant’s body could sink into it, keeping the head closer to the headrest. The headrests were positioned so that they would be close to the back of the head and protect tall occupants. Some vehicles got different ratings depending on which seats were installed – for example, the Chrysler Sebring with power reclining seats got an acceptable rating, but the Sebring with manual reclining seats was not tested because the institute determined its seats were inadequate.
On this side of the Atlantic, the motor industry trade association the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said it was concerned over the results published by the International Insurance Whiplash Prevention Group (IIWPG), which includes the UK’s Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre in Thatcham.
“While manufacturers will examine the performance of individual seats in detail, the industry believes that some aspects of the tests are too crude, while the way the results have been interpreted tell only part of the story,” the SMMT said.
“Of particular concern are seats to which Thatcham has assigned a poor or marginal rating on static tests. These are automatically given a ‘poor’ rating for overall performance, with no additional dynamic test.
“Those that are tested with a sled and ‘whiplash crash dummy’, are not set up with the head restraint located at an optimum height. Instead Thatcham use a standard mid-height setting which could adversely affect results. Drivers should be advised that the best protection comes from a head restraint adjusted in accordance with guidance set out in owners’ manuals.”
The SMMT believes results could be misleading since they are not supported by real world accident data and recommends more research.
SMMT chief executive Christopher Macgowan said: “The idea that we fit seats to new cars that are unsafe is nonsense. The reality is that millions of pounds have been invested in improving safety. Features like pre-tensioned seat belts, belt force limiters, active head restraints and anti-submarining seats are testament to the importance the industry places on protecting occupants.
“Thatcham’s own research suggests that nearly three quarters of whiplash injuries could be prevented if drivers adjusted their head restraints properly. We understand the insurance industry’s desire to drive down the £1.6 billion cost of whiplash compensation but we need a little more balance in the debate.”
The SMMT added that the motor industry is working with a number of bodies to implement global safety standards for seats.
“If consumers are not to be confused by different tests and criteria, tests driven by the insurance sector need to be consistent with these objectives,” it said.
