High number of whiplash claims down to bad prevention
Whiplash claims are so high partially due to the equally high number of cars lacking effective prevention systems. One in six new cars on sale in Britain fail to offer adequate protection from debilitating whiplash injuries, new crash test results have revealed. 16% of models are rated 'poor' at preventing potentially permanent neck injuries in collisions at speeds as low as 10mph.
Popular 'eco' city cars were found to be the worst at minimising whiplash injury. This is no light matter as this type of injury accounts for 80% of casualty claims and costs £1 billion a year in insurance pay-outs. But it is not just eco-friendly cars that are to blame, family-friendly vehicles which presumably should be doubly responsible when it comes to safety features; a clutch of hatchbacks, family saloons, people carriers, 4x4s and prestige models, were also slated in the ratings based on independent laboratory tests to assess how well restraints support occupants' heads during impacts
Updated on 5/24/2008