You're heading down the highway when you suddenly come upon a sea of red lights and are forced to quickly apply the brakes to come to a quick stop. You succeed, but the guy driving the big Chevy truck behind you wasn't as quick to react, slamming into your car and pushing you forward and back in rapid succession.

Your airbags didn't go off as you were hit in the rear, but you were saved from head and neck injury because of the active head restraints found in your car. This technology, which is new, protected your head from serious injury.

A number of companies have introduced active head restraint including auto supplier, TRW. Offering a high degree of choice for vehicle manufacturers, the TRW active head restraint is independent of seat geometry and can be integrated into any headrest height adjuster with minimal impact to the seat. The design is adaptable to different seating supplier designs and works independently of occupant size and seating position. What's more, the TRW design is reversible and easily resettable by drivers at no cost, as opposed to other designs that require a dealership visit for service or replacement.

'Our new active head restraint system has several advantages over typical systems now in vehicles,' according to Charlie Steffens, Director of Safety Systems Technology for TRW Occupant Safety Systems. 'The AHR system is designed to help slow the velocity of the head as it moves backward in a crash scenario. This can help to reduce the chances of whiplash forces acting on the occupant. Combining the TRW AHR with crash sensing systems, one can achieve excellent delta-V and threshold discrimination in a variety of rear impact events. TRW testing has shown excellent results in FMVSS, IIHS, and EuroNCAP test configurations. And the AHR allows for a larger initial backset distance between the occupant's head and the backrest for occupant comfort.

'The TRW AHR contains fewer parts and in conjunction with our electronic control module comprises a system with less mass (up to 9 pounds less) than competitive seat integrated passive head restraint systems,' Steffens continued. 'TRW has used its considerable knowledge in the design and development of safety devices and its knowledge of biomechanics to produce what we feel is an elegant solution for active head restraint.'

Thankfully, head restraints and other advanced safety features is making driving a car a safer proposition, one that can reduce the level of serious injuries while lowering healthcare costs.

Author: Matthew C. Keegan

About the author:
Matthew C. Keegan is a freelance writer who resides in Cary, North Carolina. Matt is a contributing writer for Andy's Auto Sport an aftermarket supplier of quality parts including Cadillac CTS lowering springs and Ford Ford Probe strut bars.

Article source: Free Automotive Articles.