Whiplash is the "forgotten injury" with 250,000 cases on UK roads annually, according to a crash test research centre.

Thatcham, also known as the Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre, has just published its 2007 whiplash test results for new models, which shows that car manufacturers are finally taking the issue seriously.

Several years ago Thatcham was asked by insurers to start testing car seats to see how well they could protect drivers from whiplash injury.

In 2004 it found that only a third of new model car seats offered any level of adequate protection.

The latest figures show that 55 per cent had now achieved a 'good' or 'acceptable' level.

Whiplash has been estimated to cost the car insurance industry around £1 billion in medical bills for victims who could suffer such debilitating effects as headaches, dizziness and stiff necks.

Matthew Avery, research manager at Thatcham, said that two-thirds of drivers did not adjust their head restraints adequately so "negating any of the good work car manufacturers are doing".

Thatcham, a non-profit organisation, employs over 120 staff and its centre is equipped with a range of collision repair equipment, which is used for research and training purposes.

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