I don't quite "get" the Pontiac headrests

[Tamie]

I've been thinking about these Pontiac headrests for the past few days, after really looking at one in the loading line at my son's school.

If the purpose of a head rest is to provide support for the back of the head in case of impact, how can an automaker design a headrest that looks like a doughnut? I suppose there's support around the perimeter of the head, but isn't it also (or perhaps more) needed in the back center?

Or were they thinking instead of visibility? Anyone else ever wonder about these?

Tamie

[CPSDarren]

With either solid or doughnut, some are better than others. There's a good primer and ratings here:

http://www.iihs.org/vehicle_ratings/head_restraints/head.htm

Darren