Toyota Develops Advanced Head Restraint to Reduce Whiplash Injuries

Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announced that it has developed the Active Headrest, a new head restraint that reduces the stress on the neck during low-speed, rear impacts. TMC plans to introduce the head restraint shortly, starting with new vehicle models.

At Toyota, the utmost importance is placed on improving vehicle safety through the analysis of accidents, and this approach has led to advances in passive safety technologies, such as the concept of omni-directional compatibility, pedestrian injury-lessening vehicle bodies and front seats based on the WIL (Whiplash Injury Lessening) concept.

The Active Headrest has been developed to reduce the risk of whiplash injuries sustained during rear-end collision.

Active Headrest System
The lower unit built into the seatback recognizes when the occupant's lower back presses against the seatback; it then triggers the upper unit, via a cable, to activate the head restraint.

Active Headrest
By moving diagonally upward (30mm up and 25mm forward), the head restraint quickly and securely catches the back of the head.

Main Features of the Active Headrest
The Active Headrest is an extension of the WIL concept seat, in which both the seatback and head restraint simultaneously cushion the head and lower back to reduce stress on the neck. Specifically, when the occupant's back presses against the seatback during a rear-end collision, a built-in lower unit triggers the head restraint to move diagonally upward.

This action swiftly and securely catches the back of the occupant's head, thereby reducing the risk of whiplash injury sustained by the neck upon collision (results will differ according to the physique, position and posture of the occupant inside the vehicle; however, in-house testing of the Active Headrest showed that it reduced the severity of whiplash injury by 10-20% on Toyota's neck injury evaluation index compared with the traditional WIL concept seat).

As part of its efforts to realize sustainable mobility, Toyota intends to strengthen its traffic safety initiatives in the future through:
1) the development of even safer vehicles and technologies,
2) participation in the creation of a safe traffic environment and 3) activities designed to educate people in traffic safety, thereby contributing to the complete elimination of traffic casualties, which can be viewed as the ultimate hope of a society that values mobility.

Agent009 - 7/6/2007 9:23:59 AM

+2 Boost

Hot on the heels of the IIHS press release showing poor SUV rear collision safety across the board.

kpaxx - 7/6/2007 9:26:38 AM

+2 Boost

Saab has this type of safety feature for years....!

Agent009 - 7/6/2007 9:34:43 AM

+2 Boost

Yes they have, basically an "adaptation" of that existing technology.

lewissalem - 7/6/2007 9:54:26 AM

+4 Boost

I believe that Volvo has a WHIPS system that also helps avoid these types of injuries.

w209w114 - 7/6/2007 10:53:30 AM

-2 Boost

Yawwwwnnn.... I told you they were going to be adapting Neckpro (introduced in 2004 by Mercedes) and Fast.

silent_power - 7/6/2007 12:18:42 PM

+2 Boost

Haha! Europeans are so funny, fighting all the time about fatherhoods.
Take it easy guys, this is an evolution of the previous Toyota system.
It actually says that, new system reduced the severity of whiplash injury by 10-20% compared to the previous system.
Among other things, it justifies the fact that Toyota Tundra is the only pickup to receive the top rating of 'Good" for minimizing neck injuries in rear end collisions.

benzdabest - 7/6/2007 1:27:37 PM

0 Boost

YAWWWWNNNNNNN !!!!!! What else will Toyota-Lexus copy next.

silent_power - 7/6/2007 2:09:55 PM

+3 Boost

"YAWWWWNNNNNNN !!!!!! What else will Toyota-Lexus copy next."

Go figure... Given the fact that a Celica 2000 model had copied Mercedes S-class 2004 model... Considering their strength, maybe Toy/Lex are going to copy European 2020 year models, and paste to their 2010 year models... :)

silent_power - 7/6/2007 2:26:54 PM

+2 Boost

Mercs have passion. Toyota cannot copy Merc's reliability. You see, Merc wants the driver to be involved...
Pressure pumps blowing in order to maintain drivers interest, opening right door in order to turn the steering left and switch the lights on, etc...

mikeydred20 - 7/6/2007 6:23:25 PM

0 Boost

Toyota is just jealous of Acura/Honda because of all the acclaims they recently recieved for their head restraint systems.

silent_power - 7/7/2007 7:56:37 PM

+1 Boost

Not true. For the history, Toyota has already applied this system in Tundra.

But...
"Acure for Honda" ? Why? Are Honda infected by any disease? :)

benzdabest - 7/6/2007 8:00:24 PM

+1 Boost

YAWWWWNNNNNNN !!!!!! 06GS300 Shut the F*** up. Your words are worthless.

Bill - 7/7/2007 7:36:52 AM

+1 Boost

I saw a broken down Lexus ES330 today with steam coming out of the engine compartment. Should have taken a picture as proof, except I didn't have my camera with me.

Willis - 7/7/2007 3:40:09 PM

0 Boost

Maybe the occupants were having barbecue! LOL

silent_power - 7/7/2007 6:36:35 PM

+1 Boost

Bill wrote "I saw a broken down Lexus ES330 today with steam coming out of the engine compartment."

That was Top Gear Clarkson's job. It is known that he has a mania for charging sharp-shooters with the mission of shooting Toy/Lex cars in the engine compartment...

silent_power - 7/7/2007 5:00:35 PM

+2 Boost

06GS300 asked a question:
"how can you NOT be involved if you are sitting broken down along side the road in your Merc? I ask you..."

Its all about adrenaline, heritage and passion. The end of the day finds you, fighting for your life in a hospital's operating theatre.

silent_power - 7/7/2007 5:43:49 PM

+1 Boost

In case of misunderstanding, Merc provides against sitting broken down along side the road in your Merc...

silent_power - 7/7/2007 5:44:28 PM

+1 Boost

:) :) :)