The Whiplash Prevention Campaign began as a part of a larger research project, Prevention: Reducing Occupant Injury in Rear End Collisions, funded by AUTO21 and lead by Doug Romily from UBC Dept. of Mechanical Engineering. The larger research project involves three areas of activity:
- Prevention: Developing Strategies for Improved Head Restraint Use
- Development of Automatic Head Restraint Positioning System – Future Vehicles
- Development of Seat Whiplash Mitigation Systems – Future Vehicles
The goal of the overall project is to move from awareness of adjusting head restraints in your car, to designing a head restraint that will automatically adjust according to the height and weight of the passenger and finally to a full seat system that works to protect against whiplash without human intervention.
The Whiplash Prevention Campaign (WPC) falls under the first area of the larger project: Prevention. Our aim within the WPC is to raise awareness of how properly adjusted head restraints can reduce the chance of whiplash associated injuries by 35%. Since whiplash injuries account for approximately 26% of all injury claims from rear-impact crashes, there is an opportunity to make a huge impact on the safety of vehicle occupants.
Our Goals
The Whiplash Prevention Campaign aims to:
- Increase awareness about the important safety role that a properly adjusted head restraint can play in reducing whiplash injuries.
- Increase number of “good” vehicles produced by manufacturers and purchased by consumers.
- Assess head restraint use in BC and effectiveness of programs.
Our Methods
- Hosting focus groups for Fleet Managers & Occupational Health & Safety Officers to assess what tools and tactics would best help them make head restraint awareness a priority in the workplace
- Developing our website with safety/green rating searchable database and further resources for both consumers and employers
- Performing observational studies at public & stakeholder sites throughout British Columbia to gauge current head restraint adjustment practices.
- Participation at professional and educational conferences, seminars, etc.