Final answer:
Protective measures such as wearing a bicycle helmet and taking preventative actions like proper stretching can significantly reduce the risk of neck injuries. The anterior longitudinal ligament's role in preventing whiplash is an example of how biomechanics can influence safety practices. Additionally, car safety features like crumple zones protect passengers by absorbing impact forces.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to the ways in which protective equipment and certain practices can help prevent or reduce the severity of neck injuries. For instance, wearing a bicycle helmet is crucial as it can help protect the head and reduce the chances of a nervous system injury, potentially preventing lifelong disability. Similarly, understanding the role of the anterior longitudinal ligament, which resists excessive backward bending of the vertebral column, is key to knowing how to prevent injuries such as whiplash that often resulted from rear-end automobile collisions before the installation of seat headrests became mandatory.
In addition to using protective equipment, engaging in proper warm-ups and cool-downs, as well as stretching before and after activities, is essential in preventing ligament and muscle injuries. Lastly, modern car safety features such as crumple zones play a significant role in injury prevention by increasing the time of impact during a collision, which reduces the force experienced by passengers.