THE causes of whiplash and how to avoid it is the subject of research being carried out by the Thatcham, the Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre, and experts from manufacturers' research and development departments. Up to 60% of motor insurers' personal injury claims are for whiplash and every year hundreds of thousands of car occupants are suffering this condition as a result of road accidents.

Part of the solution may be to encourage motorists to adjust a head restraint or to get manufacturers to install automatic in-car adjusters. Ken Roberts, Thatcham director of research, said: 'Action to ensure every car occupant on every journey has a properly adjusted head restraint and seat may be part of the solution, but this would have to happen automatically since the 'ignore rate' among motorists is virtually 100%.'

Two other influencing factors which will also be looked into are seat design and the rear structure of cars where an impact takes place. A head restraint should be centred level with the centre back of the head, at eye level and be 65 - 75mm away.