Two out of three drivers haven't got a clue how to correctly position their head restraints, according to research released by the road safety charity Brake and Direct Line Car Insurance.

It revealed, two out of three respondents didn't know how to correctly position their head restraints, or incorrectly thought the top of a head restraint should be level with the neck or ears.

The remaining one in three drivers correctly said the top of a head restraint should be level with the top of the head to give it protection and stop the neck ‘hyper-extending' backwards in a crash, potentially breaking it or resulting in other severe injuries.

"Even if drivers did regularly check their head restraint, the research shows us that most drivers wouldn't have a clue whether it was correct or not, which largely explains why they don't bother,” explained Mary Williams, chief executive of Brake.

“There needs to be a major awareness-raising campaign on this life-saving, simple measure we can all take.”