Quote:Rear-Impact Crash Test Results Released
Thursday April 5, 2007

If you're thinking about buying in the car, it's one report you'll want to read.

The U.S. insurance industry has released its findings in crash tests involving rear-end collisions, and they may disturb you.

The tests found that only 40 per cent of 2007 model cars tested provided sufficient protection from neck injury or whiplash.

Seat and head restraints in 22 of 75 vehicles were described as good, while the 59 others were designated marginal or poor.

"Whiplash is the most common type of injury in motor vehicle collisions," said Insurance Corporation of British Columbia Vehicle Safety and Research Manager John Gane in a release.

"Studies show that vehicles with well designed head restraints can reduce injuries in rear-impact crashes by 24-44 per cent. Drivers can help protect themselves from whiplash by buying safer vehicles, which also helps to minimize insurance claims costs."

The best-rated 2007 vehicles include all Volvos, Audi A4, and A6, Ford Five Hundred/Mercury Montego, Nissan Sentra and Versa, Saab 9-3, and Subaru Impreza and Legacy Outback.

To see how your car ranked, click here. Note: this file is a PDF, so you may need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader to see it.