Are you taking measures to avoid whiplash?

Posted by Susannah Mayers

No matter how careful you are on the roads it is pretty much inevitable that you will be involved in a car crash at some point in your life, but the majority of motorists are unaware that it is possible to avoid whiplash in the event of a collision.

It is the most common injury suffered during a car crash, but it can be avoided if drivers take measures to prevent it while behind the wheel.

IAM Drive & Survive's head of training, Simon Elstow, has urged drivers to adjust their headrest before setting off on a journey.

He said that the top of the head restraint should be level with the top of your head for maximum safety, a fact which motorists generally ignore when they climb into their vehicle.

While making adjustments to the built-in safety features in the car it is also important to keep a good distance from the car in front so that it is possible to slow down gently when it is necessary to do so.

Mr Elstow also advised drivers to look into the rear-view mirror before braking – except in an emergency – as knowing what the car behind is doing is the best way to avoid being shunted in the rear and suffering whiplash injuries as a result.

Of course it is crucial to anticipate the traffic ahead and keep an eye on what other road users are doing, as a bank of brake lights should alert you to the fact that you will need to slow down in the near future.

Signalling early for junctions will also give those travelling behind you the opportunity to react to your decision and prevent them from ploughing into the back of you – a collision which may cause whiplash.

Mr Elstow noted that the rapid increase in car insurance premiums is attributed, in part, to the rise in whiplash compensation, so avoiding a whiplash injury will lead to a reduction in insurance costs across the board.

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