Headrest useage

[KentState]

I've been noticing lately that many drivers either don't properly adjust their headrest or that the vehicle is substandard in that area. Am I out of my mind or is this a pretty common issue?

Some examples are pickup trucks that either lack a headrest in the back or it barely goes up to the middle of the back. In a rear in collision, it seems likely that your head would smash into the rear window. Another one is where the drive doesn't adjust the headrest up and their neck would easily snap back over the top if rear ended.

Am I out of my mind or is this a pretty common issue? I know that I can feel safe if in a car if the middle of my head is able to align up properly with the middle of the head rest and I adjust from there. Makes me shudder when I think back to my '88 S-10 that didn't even offer one.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Most people look at a car as a get in it and go appliance. Not surprising that many of them don't bother to adjust things properly.

 

[DaTT]

Most people look at a car as a get in it and go appliance. Not surprising that many of them don't bother to adjust things properly.

This. I think people overlook how important they really are.

 

[dainthomas]

You wouldn't even have to get hit that hard to f up your neck bad.

 

[punjabiplaya]

headrest? what about the whole seat?

Do you really need to put the seat in a full recline in order to look cool?

 

[Anubis]

headrest? what about the whole seat?

Do you really need to put the seat in a full recline in order to look cool?

while some people do that mine is reclined because its comfortable, i have no idea how people drive with it straight and down.

my headrest is however at the correct height

 

[woodie1]

My sister took the headrests out of her car. Claimed she couldn't see out the back window when backing up. Never did get stopped by a cop either.

 

[KentState]

You wouldn't even have to get hit that hard to f up your neck bad.

That's been my thought. Was already rear ended once since moving to Georgia in this crappy traffic and really didn't have any neck stiffness. Can't imagine if the thing acts like a pivot point for the middle of your neck. My biggest issue though are vehicles like pickup trucks that have the headrests as part of the seat and it's barely sufficient for someone under 5'.

 

[Viperoni]

I never drive a car without raising the headrest.

 

[bryanW1995]

I've had neck problems for years, and headrests done poorly always piss me off. I remember for many years that ford/chevy trucks had those terribad forward-leaning headrests that always made my neck ache. Best ones I've ever seen/used were on a 7 series, though that 2011 charger RT I just drove had nice headrests for a taller guy like me.

 

[Imp]

I'm short enough that the back of the seat catches part of my head, and any height setting for the headrest catches the uppermost point.

 

[DominionSeraph]

No problem in my Grand Prix. To get a full head above the headrest you'd have to open the moonroof. And that's at its lowest position.

 

[Throckmorton]

It would be awesome if headrests were far enough forward for you to rest your head on them.

 

[DominionSeraph]

It would be awesome if headrests were far enough forward for you to rest your head on them.

These you can lay back in

Of course then you'd be driving a Grand Prix. :\
It's a nice enough car, but if I hadn't gotten mine for $12k off sticker... no way.

 

[hanoverphist]

ive never had a vehicle with head rests tall enough to use. my dodge truck had stationary headrests, so they were rarely effective. it caught the back of my neck right above the spine. my new toy civic wont go high enough to reach the middle of my head. i have a freakishly long torso.

 

[QuantumPion]

headrest? what about the whole seat?

Do you really need to put the seat in a full recline in order to look cool?

No no, quite the opposite. The new "cool" look is to move the seat so far forward that your arms lay over the top of the steering wheel resting on the dash board, while the steering wheel is pressed against your chest.

 

[ElFenix]

head restraint. if you're putting your head on it while driving go home and take a nap.

 

[ShawnD1]

head restraint. if you're putting your head on it while driving go home and take a nap.

I don't even think it's possible to rest your head on it and still be comfortable. Every seat I've ever seen was designed in such a way that having the thing press against your head would mean the seat was actually leaning forward, which is terribly uncomfortable.

My seat is slightly tilted back. I sit up straight and only about 2/3 of my back touches the seat. If I lay back, my head hits the head restraint like it should.

 

[Vette73]

I had to remove the head rest from the Ford Fusion I rented. It was angled so far forward it was pushing my head to where I could nto drive well.
I hope that was changed.

Seems this is a common issue at ford fourms that they love the car but not the headrest.

 

[ShawnD1]

Pretty much all cars look like that. You need to tilt the seat way back then use muscles to hold your spine up. It's weird but my friend says other animals do it all the time.

toyota corolla seats:

honda accord seats:

 

[Vette73]

^

Its worse than that picture lets on. I did nto even notice it till I tried driving off the lot and had to pull over to remove it after seeing that it has not adjustment.

Search "Fusion headrest" and its a common complaint.

 

[ShawnD1]

^

Its worse than that picture lets on. I did nto even notice it till I tried driving off the lot and had to pull over to remove it after seeing that it has not adjustment.

Search "Fusion headrest" and its a common complaint.

Fair enough.

Another weird thing is how some seats have "lumbar support" which is basically a bar that gouges into your spine.
Solution: tilt the seat waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back

I don't understand how that lumbar support is supposed to help. Try this demonstration in your own home to see which is nicer. First, lay flat on your back on carpet or hard wood floor. That's what a regular bench seat from 20 years ago feels like. Next, put a 2x4 piece of wood under the small of your back and try to lay flat. That's "lumbar support" and it fucking hurts and nobody in the entire planet has a spine shaped like that. Why the hell would anyone want that in a car seat? Yet they all have it.

 

[Mermaidman]

^

Its worse than that picture lets on. I did nto even notice it till I tried driving off the lot and had to pull over to remove it after seeing that it has not adjustment.

Search "Fusion headrest" and its a common complaint.

The acute headrest angle problem is more common nowadays. Most recently, I drove a Buick Regal with that issue. Fords are quite bad in that regard too.

I think the automakers intend for drivers to lean their seats far back, making the headrest angle acceptable, but I prefer to sit more upright.

 

[ShawnD1]

I think the automakers intend for drivers to lean their seats far back, making the headrest angle acceptable, but I prefer to sit more upright.

Indeed. It's not a problem while I'm young and can sit up straight using my back muscles for hours at a time, but this is seriously going to suck in a few decades. My parents are around retirement age and both of them have complained about modern cars having really shitty seats.

Best seats I've ever seen were those in my old 1992 Ford Tempo. They were very soft, and they sank down like a regular couch. That car really sucked, but it was damn comfortable.

 

[Throckmorton]

Pretty much all cars look like that. You need to tilt the seat way back then use muscles to hold your spine up. It's weird but my friend says other animals do it all the time.

Other animals don't drive cars with their backs slanted backward.