Final answer:
Seat headrests support the head and neck during a rear-end collision, reducing the likelihood of injuries such as whiplash. Airbags deploy upon impact to cushion occupants, and vehicle design features like crumple zones and dash padding absorb forces to protect passengers.
Step-by-step explanation:
Seat headrests and airbags are essential safety features that protect people from neck injuries during a rear-end collision. The anterior longitudinal ligament is also crucial as it helps resist excessive backward bending of the vertebral column, which is common in such accidents. Whiplash injuries, a type of neck injury, were more prevalent before the mandatory installation of these protective measures in vehicles.
When a vehicle experiences a rear-end impact, the seat headrests provide immediate support to the occupant's head and neck, limiting the backward motion that could result in overextension or damage to the neck ligaments. Furthermore, airbags are designed to deploy upon impact, cushioning the occupants and reducing the force experienced during the sudden deceleration.
Protection mechanisms like crumple zones and padding on dashboards contribute overall to the vehicle's ability to absorb some of the impact forces, providing a safer environment for the occupants by increasing the time over which forces act, thereby reducing their intensity. In combination, these safety features work together to prevent serious neck injuries and improve chances of survival during a collision.