NHTSA Complaint #10443169 — 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

RECENTLY I DROVE SEVERAL NEW CARS (THE LATEST BEING THE 2012 PASSAT) AND FOUND ONE COMMON COMPLAINT: THE HEADREST ON THESE CARS ARE TILTED FORWARD WAY TOO MUCH WITH NO ADJUSTMENTS AVAILABLE. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT NHTSA REQUIRES VEHICLES HEADRESTS TO BE HIGHER AND CLOSE TO THE HEAD TO REDUCE WHIPLASH INJURIES. HOW DO YOU IMPROVE SAFETY IF IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND A COMFORTABLE DRIVING POSITION? THE NEW HEADREST REGULATION FORCES THE DRIVER TO SLOUCH FORWARD (AND LOOKING DOWN) WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING FATIGUE TO SET QUICKLY. FOR ME, THE ONLY WAY TO FIND A COMFORTABLE POSITION WHILE DRIVING THESE NEW CARS ARE BY RECLINING THE SEAT BACK EXCESSIVELY (SO MY HEAD DON'T TILT FORWARD). THIS, IN MY OPINION, AREN'T SAFE SINCE THIS POSITION REDUCES THE DRIVER'S ALERTNESS. WITH THE ACTIVE HEADREST TECHNOLOGY, WHY CAN'T CAR MANUFACTURER'S SET THE HEADREST AT A NORMAL ANGLE? IN MY OPINION THE NEW HEAD REST REGULATION IS AN EASY AND LAZY WAY TO REDUCE WHIPLASH INJURY WITHOUT PROPER RESEARCH (I.E ONLY BASED ON MEASUREMENTS WITH NO REGARDS TO DRIVER'S COMFORT). *TR