padding for the head and neck of the person wearing side impact protector 110 head cradle 112 includes side wings 131 to envelope the head of a wearer however head cradle 112 is open on the top and front cradle support 114 is formed monolithically with u shaped frame 128 in the illustrated embodiment cradle support 114 extends downwardly from u shaped frame 128 to mate with harness mount plate 111 in the illustrated embodiment an adjustable head cradle height adjustment mechanism 148 provides means for mounting cradle support 114 for movement relative to harness mount plate 111 between among several predetermined positions along the length of cradle support 114 so that a user may vary the height of head cradle 112 relative to harness mount plate 111 worn by the wearer of protector 110 in the illustrated embodiment height adjustment mechanism 148 includes a support guide 150 coupled to harness mount plate 111 and formed to include a channel sized to receive cradle support 114 and allow up and down movement in directions 119 and 121 of cradle support 114 therein height adjustment mechanism 148 further includes a retainer 152 mounted for movement on support guide 150 in direction 153 to engage and disengage retainer receivers 154 formed in vertically spaced apart relation one to another along the length of cradle support 114 as suggested for example in fig7 with respect to side impact protector 10 u shaped frame 28 concave portion 30 u shaped cushion 32 and first side wing 31 and second side wing 31 associated with the head cradle 12 provide means for enveloping the head of the wearer first strap 20 second strap 20 and third strap.