Motorists warned to ditch common accessory while driving as it could cause 'serious injury'
Drivers are being warned to ditch a popular hair accessory that could put them at serious risk behind the wheel. According to experts, the claw clip could increase the risk of a serious head and neck injury during a collision.
Claw clips are a popular tool used to tie up hair and are usually made of plastic, however, unlike other accessories such as scrunchies or hair ties, claw clips have the ability to impale the back of the driver's head or neck.
Experts at Vertu said: "The headrest in your car isn't just there for comfort, it is a critical safety feature designed to protect your neck and spine in a crash by keeping your head properly aligned.
'For it to work effectively, your head should be close to the headrest, with the top level with your ears and no more than two or three inches away.
"But wearing a claw clip pushes your head forward, creating a dangerous gap that can increase the risk of whiplash. Worse still, in a collision, the hard plastic claws can be forced into the back of your head or neck, potentially causing serious injury.
'Because of this, we always recommend that drivers wear alternatives like soft scrunchies or bobbles, and double-check that their headrest is in the correct position before setting off.'
This is not the first time such a warning has been issued. In 2023, University of Derby student Jeena Panesar warned drivers not to wear a claw clip after hers got "lodged into the back of her head in a car crash", the BBC reported at the time.
She told the publication: "The doctors told me I had a 30cm-cut from my left eyebrow to the back of my head, which they thought was caused by the car roof and my hair clip.
"I want to advise people to take out their hair claw clips before driving because I'm worried it could happen to someone else. I was really lucky, but I don't want anyone else to take the risk," she added.
Similarly, a woman went viral on TikTok for sharing a similar experience, where her clip got lodged in the back of her head whilst she was a passenger in a car involved in an accident.
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The woman, called Paisley, said: "We rolled, and the back of my head hit a metal bar, which lodged the claw clip in the back of my head".
Heading straight to the emergency room, she got a CT scan and an X-ray and said she was "lucky" not to have brain damage after the incident.
Doctors closed up her wound by putting four staples in the back of her head, she shared.
In a follow up video she added: "I just posted those videos to let those other girls know that it could be very dangerous to have a hair clip or claw clip or anything like that in the back of their hair.
"I was very lucky, it could have been so much worse. It could've been worse than five staples."
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