We all know the importance of checking that our seatbelt is correctly and securely fitted, but few of us are aware of the potentially serious consequences of an incorrectly fitted headrest.

Headrests are fitted in every car and are designed to work with the seatbelt to help to prevent the neck and head from twisting backwards causing injury.

A correctly fitted headrest can help prevent a driver or passenger sustaining neck, brain and spinal cord injuries in a road traffic accident.

It's reported that even at speeds of as little as 15mph a driver or passenger can sustain an injury from an incorrectly fitted headrest.

As a whiplash injury to the neck is perhaps the most common injury suffered by those involved in motor accidents, a few moments taken to ensure that your headrest is in the right position is a sensible precaution to take in order to avoid a potentially serious and long standing injury.

So how do you position your headrest correctly?

• ensure that the top of the headrest is in a straight line with the top of your head
• position the centre of your headrest so it's slightly above the top of your ear
• make sure the distance between the headrest and the back of your head is between 5-10cm

Best of all, take someone with you to complete these checks, making sure you check the position of your headrest every time you get into your car or drive a vehicle belonging to someone else.

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