Around 1,200 people claim compensation for whiplash injuries every day in the UK, putting increasing pressure on car insurance premiums, the AA claims.

This is an increase of 25 per cent in the past five years and a new report called Tackling Whiplash: Prevention, Care, Compensation, details that these claims cost the insurance industry £1.9 billion in 2007.

This is equal to around £66 for every policy in the country, which is more than double the cost of claims involving accidents with uninsured drivers.

Edmund King, president of the AA, believes that many of these injuries could be avoidable.

"Drivers can avoid inflicting whiplash on themselves and others by keeping a safe distance - at least two seconds - from the vehicle ahead," he said.

Mr King also added that head restraints should be properly positioned and level with the top of a driver's head.

Recently, Direct Line found that 19 per cent of motorists do not always wear a seatbelt when driving.

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