Now I am worried about the increased whiplash risk due to trailer hitch receivers.
Today, roughly 40% of the vehicles on the highway have receiver hitches – and although they are necessary for towing – they reduce rear end collision damage and INCREASE the risk of whiplash by creating a stiff "crash pulse".
In a European study by Chalmers with data from Folksam and Autoliv they concluded that a vehicle equipped with a receiver hitch (tow bar) increases the risk of whiplash by 22% if it is hit in the rear. And in the United States the most frequent vehicle accident is the rear end collision.
The National Safety Commission Alerts: How Receiver Hitches Affect Rear End Collision Injuries
Would using a 1 1/4" vs. a 2" receiver reduce this risk?