The sled test simulates the kind of crash that frequently occurs when one vehicle rear ends another in commuter traffic. People think of head restraints as head rests, but they're not. They're important safety devices. You're more likely to need the protection of a good head restraint in a collision than you are to need other safety devices because rear-end crashes are so common.  -   Adrian Lund     Quotes
The sled test simulates the kind of crash that frequently occurs when one vehicle rear ends another in commuter traffic. People think of head restraints as head rests, but they're not. They're important safety devices. You're more likely to need the protection of a good head restraint in a collision than you are to need other safety devices because rear-end crashes are so common. Adrian Lund