Rear seat whiplash protection
First: English is only my second language (I'm a Swedish national) so apologies if I’ve gotten the wording of this wrong in some way.
Also, this is my first post on this forum. The reason for this is that I’ve been unable to find anything definitive on this topic anywhere.
The short version: Does the Tesla Model S provide protection against whiplash injuries for passengers in the rear seat if the car is involved in an accident where it is rear-ended by another vehicle? The reason I ask is because from what I’ve been able to gather the Model S does not appear to have functional headrests in the back seat.
The longer version: I've been a rather huge supporter of Tesla since I first found out about the company, and would have gladly reserved a Model S from the get-go if only I then had the necessary means to so (and before that a Roadster as well for that matter). Unfortunately I didn't have those means then and just as unfortunate I still don't. But I of course continue to be a huge supporter, and wish Tesla the biggest possible success.
This is why I got kind of worried when I read about the rear ending that happened to Teslamotorsclub forum member napabill and his wife at the Get Amped Tour in Freemont in a thread on this forum. Napabill wrote: “My wife in the back seat bumped her head on the roof” …and also in a later post in the same thread, offering more details; ”The only thing my wife noted was that the rear seats do not have head rests but there really isn't room.”
So, doesn’t the Model S provide protection against whiplash injuries for passengers in the backseat? Or are Tesla as a substitute for traditional headrest instead also using the padded bodywork beam between the roof and the rear window? (Not sure if I’m using the correct term to describe that beam/part of the car…)
For me, this backseat headrest-issue, together with how to open the doors if power fails, are the only two question marks about the Model S so far. In all other aspects, from the info I’ve seen, the Model S seem about as awesome as it gets. But to me, rear seat whiplash protection still feels like a rather important issue that so far almost hasn’t been addressed at all.
First: English is only my second language (I'm a Swedish national) so apologies if I’ve gotten the wording of this wrong in some way.
Also, this is my first post on this forum. The reason for this is that I’ve been unable to find anything definitive on this topic anywhere.
The short version: Does the Tesla Model S provide protection against whiplash injuries for passengers in the rear seat if the car is involved in an accident where it is rear-ended by another vehicle? The reason I ask is because from what I’ve been able to gather the Model S does not appear to have functional headrests in the back seat.
The longer version: I've been a rather huge supporter of Tesla since I first found out about the company, and would have gladly reserved a Model S from the get-go if only I then had the necessary means to so (and before that a Roadster as well for that matter). Unfortunately I didn't have those means then and just as unfortunate I still don't. But I of course continue to be a huge supporter, and wish Tesla the biggest possible success.
This is why I got kind of worried when I read about the rear ending that happened to Teslamotorsclub forum member napabill and his wife at the Get Amped Tour in Freemont in a thread on this forum. Napabill wrote: “My wife in the back seat bumped her head on the roof” …and also in a later post in the same thread, offering more details; ”The only thing my wife noted was that the rear seats do not have head rests but there really isn't room.”
So, doesn’t the Model S provide protection against whiplash injuries for passengers in the backseat? Or are Tesla as a substitute for traditional headrest instead also using the padded bodywork beam between the roof and the rear window? (Not sure if I’m using the correct term to describe that beam/part of the car…)
For me, this backseat headrest-issue, together with how to open the doors if power fails, are the only two question marks about the Model S so far. In all other aspects, from the info I’ve seen, the Model S seem about as awesome as it gets. But to me, rear seat whiplash protection still feels like a rather important issue that so far almost hasn’t been addressed at all.
Last edited: