AAA How to Drive Practice Test 2026 - Free Driving Practice Questions and Study Guide

Head restraints are meant to catch the head early when the body is pushed forward in a crash, reducing whiplash. When the top of the restraint sits slightly above the ears, it lines up high enough to contact the back of the head quickly and support it as the body moves, keeping the head from snapping backward too far. If the restraint is level with the ears or below, it won’t engage as effectively, and at shoulder level it would be far too low to support the head at all.