Car Seat Support — Why are rear facing car seats safer than forward facing car seats?

Rear facing is FIVE TIMES SAFER than forward facing car seats. This is due to the biomechanics of a child's body; they have soft spines, disproportionally large heads resting on underdeveloped necks. In a forward facing car seat, the car seat’s 5-point harness restrains the child's torso, placing the majority of the forces on the neck. In a rear facing child car seat, the seat shell cradles the neck and spine and absorbs the impact energy, significantly less strain is put on the child’s neck.