research Whiplash 2010 Update: New seat designs are improving. SPECIAL EDITION 10/NO.1

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1 research SPECIAL EDITION 10/NO.1 5o o v e r % g o o d n e w s Whiplash 2010 Update: New seat designs are improving. Mercedes Pro-Active Head Restraint INSIDE: 2010 Whiplash Update P4 / Pro-Active Head Restraints P10 / Seat Ratings P14

2 WHIPLASH INJURY n e w s Whiplash injury Whiplash is the most common injury in car crashes, and the debilitating and painful symptoms associated with neck strain are a costly burden on the insurance industry, and the general public. There are now over 400,000 whiplash injury claims annually. Although the majority of injuries are only minor, in a minority of cases the injury can lead to long term pain over many months. Around 1% of injured occupants suffer permanent impairment leading to a lifetime of misery. Whiplash is thought to occur during the rapid differential movement of the body relative to the head, when the seat moves forward in a rear-end crash and the head doesn t, because the head is not supported by the head restraint. Finally, during the impact phase, the head catches up with the body, but in the meantime, the neck has been forced into an S shape. This is where many researchers believe that the whiplash injury occurs. Although researchers still do not fully understand the mechanisms of whiplash injury, many agree that the risk of injury can be reduced through good seat design. The key to effective whiplash injury prevention is the car s seat, and in particular, the size and placement of the head restraint and its ability to lock. Thatcham s testing aims to limit the differential movement by encouraging the manufacturers to design seats which keep the head and body moving together. Only a head restraint that is very close to the head can do this. Normal Retraction Extension Hyperextension ( S Shape) Whiplash is the most common injury in car crashes. Whiplash is thought to occur as the neck is forced into an S shape during the compression phase of a rear-end impact. AUTHORS: MATTHEW AVERY, Research Manager and Dr. ALIX WEEKES, Lead Research Engineer, Thatcham 03

3 WHIPLASH: 2010 UPDATE 68% brand new seats GOOD Whiplash: 2010 Update The results for the 2010 Model Year cover the cars that are on sale in 2010 (not just the new cars launched). These 2010 Model Year results are compiled from ratings for new seats tested, in addition to the ratings from previous years testing that are carried over. The manufacturers do not change their seat designs every year (only when new model updates or facelifts occur), in which case we are able to carry over the result from a previous year to the current year, if the car is still on sale. Ratings for cars that have ceased production are removed. So from the new seats tested for the 2010 Model Year update, 68% were rated Good. This increase in Good rated seats for new models has an effect on the whole fleet when they are combined with the carried over results. This reflects an overall improvement with over 50% of seats rated as Good for 2010 Model Year vehicles. Seats Improving Year on Year Thatcham publishes ratings for the Model Year this combines ratings from previous years testing with new seats tested in that Model Year. Thatcham s last release of results for 2008 Model Year had only 35% of seats rated as Good. The results of the 2010 Model Year seat testing at Thatcham reveal an improvement in the number of seats rated as Good. We now see that 51% of seats are rated as Good for offering protection against debilitating whiplash injuries. Manufacturers are continuing to take the prevention of whiplash injuries seriously. Thatcham has been testing seats for their ability to protect the occupant from whiplash injuries since The 2010 Model Year testing again confirms that manufacturers from around the world are listening to Thatcham and introducing new seat designs that can protect their occupants from whiplash injuries. Only 9% of the seats are rated Poor, which shows a great improvement since the first round of testing of 2005 Model Year seats. This small group of Poor rated seats are mostly older designs that are due for replacement, so Thatcham hopes to see the improvement continue next year. Good 16% 9% Good Ratings carried over from previous years 2010 Model Year (MY) New test ratings 2010 MY New test ratings 2010 MY 2010 New seat tests only Acceptable Marginal Poor 36% 24% 2005 Model Year (MY) 24% 20% 20% 51% 2010 Model Year (MY) Acceptable Marginal Poor New test ratings for 2010 Model Year - 68% Good. Comparison of seat testing results: 2005 compared to 2010 model year. 05

4 WHIPLASH: INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE Whiplash: International Perspective International collaboration between test centres helps to increase the pressure on vehicle manufacturers to improve seat and head restraint designs. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in the USA is also involved with the International Insurance Whiplash Prevention Group (IIWPG) seat testing, and the results from Thatcham and IIHS are shared amongst the members of RCAR the Research Council for Automobile Repairs. Members collaborate to publish these IIWPG seat ratings for their national markets, and all of this helps to encourage the manufacturers to offer better protection against whiplash injuries. For IIHS, the percentage of seats rated as Good has increased from 12% for the 2005 Model Year seats to 52% for the 2009 Model Year seats. Comparison of ratings from Thatcham and IIHS shows that European and North American markets are both improving. Similarly Thatcham s Good rated seats have increased from 16% in 2005 model year, to 51% for 2010 Model Year. Both the European seats tested by Thatcham, and the US seats tested by IIHS now show that half the seats are rated as Good, which is a great improvement over the last few years. 100% Undeployed. 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% European markets US markets IIHS are an international partner in whiplash testing. Percentage of Good rated seats: Comparison for European and US markets. Mercedes Benz Pro-Active Head Restraint during deployment. Deployed. 07

5 BMW - ALL GOOD Volvo and Saab have traditionally been the benchmark seats, and they still continue to lead the way in protecting occupants against whiplash injury. The All Good manufacturers have seats rated as Good in each and every new model on sale. BMW this year have joined Volvo, Saab and Audi as the latest All Good manufacturer with their Pro-Active Head Restraint design. There are a few other manufacturers that are close to achieving the status of All Good. Mercedes, Honda and Alfa Romeo have all seats rated so far achieving a Good rating, but Thatcham still awaits some seats for testing. As soon as these manufacturers supply the remaining seats for testing, they could complete their line up of Good rated seats, and so join the group of All Good manufacturers. BMW all good: BMW New 7 Series BMW all good: BMW New 3 Series Coupe BMW all good: BMW New 5 Series Gran Turismo 09

6 PRO-ACTIVE HEAD RESTRAINTS n e w s Pro-Active Head Restraints detect a rear impact of the defined severity, the control unit deploys the head restraint by activating preloaded springs inside it. The front of the head restraint moves up and forward to meet and support the head early in the crash phase, and thus helps to reduce the risk of injury. The NECK-PRO system from Mercedes is fully reversible and can then be re-set by the car owner it can be pushed back into position by hand. Thus, NECK-PRO can be triggered even at a very low impact severity and offers then the full protection potential - without any repair costs for the owner. Pro-Active Head Restraints can help to protect against whiplash injuries even if the driver is out of position. BMW Z4. The Pro-Active Head Restraint deploys up and forward when a crash is detected. An example is the NECK-PRO system from Mercedes. Pro-Active Head Restraints Although many seats are now rated as Good the manufacturers are using a wide variety of designs, and these work in different ways. Many drivers are often out of position in an accident for example, they are leaning forward to see around a corner at a junction. The Pro-Active Head Restraint technologies can offer additional protection in complex, out of position situations, such as roundabouts or junctions. Pro-Active Head Restraints (PAHR) are a recent technology used by manufacturers to help prevent whiplash injuries. Both Mercedes and BMW fit PAHR systems. These systems are designed to reduce the risk of neck injury in a rear crash by preventing the differential movement of the head and neck. The Pro-Active Head Restraints are linked to an electronic control unit. When the crash sensors on the car The advantage of the PAHR systems is that they are activated based on input from the crash sensor they do not rely upon the weight of the occupant s body moving into the seat for activation like a Reactive Head Restraint (RHR). PAHR systems offer their protection potential regardless of the occupant s size and weight. The particular advantage is that if the occupant is out of position, for example leaning forward to see around a corner, the PAHR will still activate and offer some protection to the occupant. This must be a benefit of these systems since the PAHR systems deploy regardless of the occupant s posture. 11

7 WHIPLASH TEST Whiplash The whiplash test used by Thatcham was developed with our international insurance research partners (The International Insurance Whiplash Prevention Group - IIWPG) and is now used and respected throughout the world. The test recreates a typical 10mph crash on a special test machine the sort of shunt where whiplash injuries commonly occur and features the unique BioRID whiplash dummy, especially created to emulate the movement of a human during a rear crash. The test assesses the forces endured by the car s occupants during the crash and measures the time until the head and neck are supported. The best seats have large head restraints that can support the occupant s head and neck very early and can mitigate the force of the crash helping to prevent injury. Many of the best performing seats have anti-whiplash devices that can absorb the forces of the crash or move the head restraint automatically during the crash to support the head early to help prevent injury. test IIWPG Test procedure with a Volvo seat. The test measures the size of the head restraint and how close it would be to a typical driver. It also rates the dynamic performance of the seat during the crash test and combines these two assessments into one final, overall rating. Overall rating Good Acceptable Marginal Poor Good: A seat that offers good protection for most sizes of occupant may be fitted with specific antiwhiplash protection. Acceptable: A seat that offers reasonable protection for small to average sized drivers. Marginal : A seat that offers some protection for small to average occupants. Poor : A seat that offers little protection from whiplash-type injuries. Run out: Indicates a model that is near the end of production. A newer model might also be on sale at the same time. Protection Reactive Head Restraint: A head restraint that automatically moves up and forward during the crash, actuated by the weight of the occupant in the seat. (Example: Saab SAHR) Pro-Active Head Restraint: A head restraint that automatically moves up and forward at the start of the crash, actuated by crash sensors on the bumper or within the car. (Example: Mercedes-Benz NECK-PRO) Reactive Seat: An entire seat and head restraint that absorbs the energy of a rear end crash. (Example: Volvo WHIPS) Passive Seat: A seat that uses passive foam technology to absorb the energy of the crash and allows the occupant to engage the head restraint without neck distortion. (Example: Audi Backguard) No caption: A traditional fixed or adjustable head restraint that has no specific anti-whiplash technology. 13

8 SEAT RATINGS - THE RESULTS These ratings only allow the comparative assessment of a seat s ability to protect its occupant from whiplash injury in a typical rear-end crash. They cannot be used to predict with certainty whether whiplash injury would (or would not) occur, since the scientific and research community still does not know enough about the mechanisms of whiplash injury to state this confidently. Seat Ratings... It is important to remember that all occupants must adjust their head restraint correctly whether they have a Poor or Good rated seat. No head restraint can offer full protection if it is incorrectly adjusted. The ideal adjustment is as high as the top of the head, and as close to the back of the head as possible. NOTE: Seat ratings indicated with are supplied in association with Euro NCAP, of which Thatcham is a member. Further information: Visit for the latest seat ratings. Alfa Romeo Alfa Romeo 159 Reactive Head Restraint Good Alfa Romeo Brera Reactive Head Restraint Good Alfa Romeo MiTo Reactive Head Restraint Good Alfa Romeo GT Awaiting Supply Alfa Romeo Spider Reactive Head Restraint Good Audi Audi A3 Passive Seat Good Audi S3 Passive Seat Good Audi A4 Passive Seat Good Audi A4 Sport Passive Seat Good Audi S4 Passive Seat Good Audi A5 Passive Seat Good Audi A5 Convertible Passive Seat Good Audi S5 Passive Seat Good Audi A6 Passive Seat Good Audi S6 Passive Seat Good Audi TT Coupe Passive Seat Good Audi TT Roadster Passive Seat Good Audi R8 Passive Seat Good Audi Audi Q5 Passive Seat Good Audi Q7 Passive Seat Good Audi Q7 Comfort Passive Seat Good BMW BMW Z4 Good BMW 1-Series Good BMW 1-Series Coupe Good BMW 1-Series Convertible Good BMW 3-Series Pro-Active Head Restraint Good BMW 3-Series Coupe Pro-Active Head Restraint Good BMW 3-Series Convertible Pro-Active Head Restraint Good BMW 5-Series (run out) Pro-Active Head Restraint Good BMW 5-Series Comfort (run out) Pro-Active Head Restraint Good BMW 5-GT Pro-Active Head Restraint Good BMW 5-GT Comfort Pro-Active Head Restraint Good BMW 6-Series Coupe Pro-Active Head Restraint Good BMW 6-Series Convertible Pro-Active Head Restraint Good BMW 7-Series Pro-Active Head Restraint Good BMW 7-Series Comfort Pro-Active Head Restraint Good BMW X1 Good BMW X3 Pro-Active Head Restraint Good BMW X3 Comfort Pro-Active Head Restraint Good BMW X5 Pro-Active Head Restraint Good BMW X5 Comfort Pro-Active Head Restraint Good BMW X6 Pro-Active Head Restraint Good BMW X6 Comfort Pro-Active Head Restraint Good Cadillac Cadillac BLS Reactive Head Restraint Good Chevrolet Chevrolet Matiz Marginal Chevrolet Lacetti Marginal Chevrolet Captiva Awaiting Supply Chrysler Chrysler 300 C Acceptable Chrysler Grand Voyager Marginal Citroen Citroen C1 Marginal Citroen C2 Poor Citroen C3 Acceptable Citroen C3 Picasso Marginal Citroen C4 Acceptable Citroen C4 VTR Poor Citroen C4 Picasso Marginal Citroen C4 Grand Picasso Marginal Citroen Nemo Multispace Awaiting Supply Citroen Berlingo Multispace Passive Seat Marginal Citroen Xsara Picasso Acceptable Citroen C5 Passive Seat Marginal Citroen C6 Reactive Head Restraint Acceptable Citroen C-Crosser Good Dacia Dacia Sandero Passive Seat Acceptable 15

9 Daihatsu Daihatsu Cuore Passive Seat Acceptable Daihatsu Materia Passive Seat Acceptable Daihatsu Sirion Acceptable Daihatsu Terios Good Dodge Dodge Caliber Marginal Dodge Nitro Poor Dodge Avenger Acceptable Fiat Fiat 500 Marginal Fiat Panda Poor Fiat Grande Punto Marginal Fiat Bravo Reactive Head Restraint Acceptable Fiat Sedici Marginal Fiat Doblo (run out) Poor Fiat Qubo Awaiting Supply Fiat Florino Combi Awaiting Supply Fiat Multipla Poor Ford Ford Ka Passive Seat Acceptable Ford Fiesta Passive Seat Good Ford Fusion Marginal Ford Focus Good Ford Kuga Passive Seat Marginal Ford C-Max Good Ford Mondeo Reactive Head Restraint Good Ford S-Max Reactive Head Restraint Good Ford Galaxy Reactive Head Restraint Good Honda Honda Jazz Good Honda Civic Reactive Head Restraint Good Honda Civic Type R Awaiting Supply Honda Insight Reactive Head Restraint Good Honda Accord Reactive Head Restraint Good Honda CR-V Reactive Head Restraint Good Honda FR-V Awaiting Supply Hyundai Hyundai i10 Passive Seat Acceptable Hyundai i20 Reactive Head Restraint Good Hyundai i30 Reactive Head Restraint Good Hyundai Sonata Reactive Head Restraint Good Hyundai Tucson Marginal Hyundai Santa Fe Reactive Head Restraint Good Jaguar Jaguar X-Type Poor Jaguar X-Type Sport Poor Jaguar XF Reactive Head Restraint Good Jaguar XJ (run out) Reactive Seat Marginal Jaguar XK Reactive Head Restraint Good Jeep Jeep Cherokee Poor Jeep Compass Acceptable Jeep Patriot Acceptable Jeep Wrangler Marginal Kia Kia Picanto Marginal Kia Rio Poor Kia Cee'd Reactive Head Restraint Good Kia Sedona Reactive Head Restraint Good Kia Sorento Reactive Head Restraint Good Kia Soul Reactive Head Restraint Good Kia Sportage (run out) Poor Lancia Lancia Delta Reactive Head Restraint Good Land Rover Land Rover Freelander II Acceptable Land Rover Defender Marginal Land Rover Discovery III (run out) Acceptable Land Rover Range Rover Sport (run out) Acceptable Land Rover Range Rover Reactive Head Restraint Good Lexus Lexus IS Passive Seat Marginal Lexus GS Passive Seat Poor Lexus LS Marginal Lexus RX Passive Seat Marginal Mazda Mazda 2 Marginal Mazda 5 Marginal Mazda 6 Passive Seat Marginal Mazda CX-7 Marginal Mazda MX-5 Marginal Mercedes Mercedes A-Class Reactive Head Restraint Good Mercedes B-Class Reactive Head Restraint Good Mercedes C-Class Pro-Active Head Restraint Good Mercedes E-Class Pro-Active Head Restraint Good Mercedes SLK Awaiting Supply Mercedes R-Class Pro-Active Head Restraint Good Mercedes M-Class Pro-Active Head Restraint Good Mercedes GL-Class Pro-Active Head Restraint Good Mercedes GLK Pro-Active Head Restraint Good MINI MINI Mini Acceptable MINI Clubman Acceptable MINI Convertible Acceptable Mitsubishi Mitsubishi Colt Poor Mitsubishi Lancer Good Mitsubishi Outlander Good Mitsubishi Shogun Poor Nissan Nissan Micra Acceptable Nissan Micra CC Acceptable Nissan Pixo Marginal Nissan Note Reactive Head Restraint Marginal Nissan Qashqai Reactive Head Restraint Good Nissan X-Trail Reactive Head Restraint Acceptable Nissan Murano Reactive Head Restraint Good Nissan Pathfinder Reactive Head Restraint Marginal

10 Peugeot Peugeot 107 Marginal Peugeot 207 Marginal Peugeot 308 Awaiting Supply Peugeot 308cc Passive Seat Poor Peugeot 3008 Good Peugeot 407 Acceptable Peugeot 4007 Good Peugeot Bipper Tepee Awaiting Supply Peugeot Partner Tepee Good Proton Proton Gen 2 Poor Renault Renault Twingo 2 Acceptable Renault Clio Good Renault Modus Good Renault Kangoo 2 Passive Seat Good Renault Megane 3 Passive Seat Acceptable Renault Megane CC (run out) Acceptable Renault Megane Coupe Passive Seat Acceptable Renault Laguna 3 Acceptable Renault Koleos Passive Seat Good Renault Scenic 3 Good Renault Grand Scenic 3 Good Renault Espace Acceptable Saab Saab 9-3 Reactive Head Restraint Good Saab 9-5 Reactive Head Restraint Good SEAT SEAT Ibiza Passive Seat Marginal SEAT Leon Reactive Head Restraint Acceptable SEAT Leon Sport Reactive Head Restraint Acceptable SEAT Leon Acceptable SEAT Leon Sport Acceptable SEAT Altea Reactive Head Restraint Good SEAT Altea Marginal SEAT Exeo Awaiting Supply Skoda Skoda Fabia Acceptable Skoda Yeti Good Skoda Roomster Acceptable Skoda Superb Passive Seat Marginal Smart Smart Fortwo Acceptable Subaru Subaru Justy Passive Seat Acceptable Subaru Impreza Reactive Head Restraint Good Subaru Legacy Reactive Head Restraint Good Subaru Outback Reactive Head Restraint Good Subaru Forester Reactive Head Restraint Good Subaru Tribeca Reactive Head Restraint Good Suzuki Suzuki Splash Passive Seat Poor Suzuki Alto Marginal Suzuki Swift Acceptable Suzuki SX4 Marginal Suzuki Grand Vitara Marginal Toyota Toyota IQ Passive Seat Good Toyota Aygo Marginal Toyota Yaris Passive Seat Marginal Toyota Urban Cruiser Reactive Head Restraint Good Toyota Auris Passive Seat Good Toyota Verso Passive Seat Poor Toyota Avensis 3 Reactive Head Restraint Good Toyota Prius 3 Reactive Head Restraint Good Toyota RAV4 Marginal Vauxhall/Opel Vauxhall/Opel Agila Passive Seat Poor Vauxhall/Opel Corsa Passive Seat Acceptable Vauxhall/Opel Astra (run out) Marginal Vauxhall/Opel Insignia Reactive Head Restraint Good Vauxhall/Opel Tigra Reactive Head Restraint Good Vauxhall/Opel Meriva Reactive Head Restraint Acceptable Vauxhall/Opel Meriva Poor Vauxhall/Opel Zafira Marginal Vauxhall/Opel Antara Awaiting Supply Volkswagen Volkswagen Fox Marginal Volkswagen Polo Passive Seat Acceptable Volkswagen Golf Passive Seat Good Volkswagen Golf GTD Passive Seat Good Volkswagen Golf GTI Passive Seat Good Volkswagen Golf Plus Reactive Head Restraint Acceptable Volkswagen Scirocco Passive Seat Good Volkswagen Eos Marginal Volkswagen Beetle Reactive Head Restraint Acceptable Volkswagen Jetta Reactive Head Restraint Acceptable Volkswagen Jetta Marginal Volkswagen Passat Passive Seat Good Volkswagen Passat Coupe Passive Seat Good Volkswagen Touran Reactive Head Restraint Acceptable Volkswagen Touran Awaiting Supply Volkswagen Sharan Poor Volkswagen Touareg Marginal Volkswagen Tiguan Good Volvo Volvo C30 Reactive Seat Good Volvo C70 Reactive Seat Good Volvo S40 Reactive Seat Good Volvo V50 Reactive Seat Good Volvo V70 Reactive Seat Good Volvo S80 Reactive Seat Good Volvo XC60 Reactive Seat Good Volvo XC70 Reactive Seat Good Volvo XC90 Reactive Seat Good

11 research n e w s PRODUCED BY THATCHAM MEDIA SERVICES MEMBER COMPANIES ADMIRAL INSURANCE CO LTD ALLIANZ INSURANCE PLC AMLIN INSURANCE SERVICES ANSVAR INSURANCE CO AVIVA PLC AXA INSURANCE (UK) PLC BRIT INSURANCE LTD CHAUCER INSURANCE CHURCHILL INSURANCE CO LTD CO-OPERATIVE INSURANCE SOCIETY LTD DIRECT LINE INSURANCE PLC ECCLESIASTICAL INSURANCE GROUP EQUITY RED STAR MOTOR POLICIES ESURE INSURANCE LTD FORTIS INSURANCE LTD GROUPAMA INSURANCE CO LTD HIGHWAY INSURANCE CO LTD INSURANCE CORP OF CHANNEL ISLANDS LTD JUBILEE MOTOR POLICIES AT LLOYD S KGM UNDERWRITING AGENCIES LTD LIVERPOOL VICTORIA INSURANCE CO LTD MMA INSURANCE PLC NOVAE INSURANCE CO LTD PROVIDENT INSURANCE PLC QBE INSURANCE CO (UK) LTD RSA PLC THE NFU MUTUAL INSURANCE SOCIETY LTD UK INSURANCE LTD ZURICH INSURANCE CO THATCHAM IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANISATION OUR VISION IS THAT GLOBALLY, VEHICLES ARE REPAIRED SAFELY, CRASH INJURIES ARE MINIMISED AND VEHICLE THEFT IS ERADICATED. Further information: Visit for the latest seat ratings. Thatcham Colthrop Way, Thatcham Berkshire RG19 4NR Tel: +44 (0) Fax: +44 (0) Web: