Protecting yourself and your passengers

The following tips should help you make sure you and your passengers are safe.

Use head restraints. Whiplash injuries often result inmany days of pain and suffering. Injuries such as whiplash currently cost British insurers over £1 billion a year and account for over 80% of the total cost of personal injury claims.

To prevent whiplash, adjust your head restraint so it is as close to the back of your head as possible (it is best if your head touches the restraint). The top of the restraint should be as high as the top of your head.

You and the people travelling with you should check the position of your head restraints before every journey.

The 'new car whiplash ratings' website, www.ncwr.co.uk shows the ratings of head restraintsin new cars available in the United Kingdom.

Remember, it's a head restraint – do not use it as a headrest.

Tiredness is thought to be a major cause of manyroad accidents. You should take a break for at least 15 minutes every two hours. 

You should not use your mobile phone whiledriving. Making or receiving a call, even using a hands-free phone, can distract you from driving and could lead to an accident. It is now against the law to use a hand-held mobile phone. If you are caught, you could get three points on your licence and a £60 fine.

Wear seat belts. It is against the law not to wear aseat belt if one is fitted. Wearing a seat belt could keep you safe if you have an accident. Make sure you adjust the seat belt properly for your height and build.

The law provides a number of exemptions from wearing seat belts. These are based on medical and other reasons.

Please ask your doctor if you think you should not wear a seatbelt for medical reasons.

To be exempt for medical reasons, you must hold a 'Certificate of exemption from compulsory seat-belt wearing' issued by a qualified medical practitioner and you must show it to the police if they ask.

Child car seats. Since 18 September 2006, new laws apply to protect children in cars.