The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has launched a new test aimed at preventing whiplash.
The new seat and head restraint evaluation targets neck injuries stemming from rear-end crashes.
“Neck sprains and strains are the most frequently reported injuries in US auto insurance claims,” said IIHS President David Harkey.
“This new test challenges automakers to further improve their seats and head restraints to provide better protection in the rear impacts that typically cause these injuries.”
The IIHS assessed 18 small SUVs under the new whiplash prevention test. The good performers included the Audi Q3, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4.
The original IIHS head restraint test involved a single pulse equivalent to being struck at 20 mph by a vehicle of the same weight.
That evaluation was dropped in 2022 because automakers had improved their designs so that virtually all the vehicles tested now earned good ratings.
The IIHS said while these improvements reduced injury rates, the new test was needed to continue progress.
The full test results from the new whiplash prevention test can be viewed on the IIHS website.
