How do head restraints protect the driver in impacts?

Head restraints play a crucial role in protecting the driver during impacts, particularly in rear-end collisions. They are designed primarily to reduce the risk of whiplash injuries, which can occur when the head is suddenly thrown backward and then forward during a collision. When a vehicle is struck from behind, the head restraint helps to limit the backward movement of the head, providing support and mitigating the force that is transmitted to the neck.

In addition to this protective function during the initial impact, head restraints also serve to catch the head during rebound. In a rear impact scenario, after the initial force pushes the head backwards, the sudden stop and subsequent forward momentum can cause the head to snap forward. A properly positioned and designed head restraint helps to cushion this rebound motion, further reducing the likelihood of injury.

This dual functionality—protecting against both the initial impact and the subsequent rebound—underlines why the correct answer encompasses both aspects of head restraint protection. It's important for drivers to ensure that their head restraints are properly adjusted according to their height to maximize their effectiveness in protecting against whiplash and other related neck injuries during an accident.