A head and neck restraint device controls the motion of the head and forces exerted upon the neck of a seated occupant in a decelerating vehicle. A body defines a collar, right and left legs, and right and left wings. The collar is tethered to the helmet. Each leg has belt interaction surfaces that provide a friction action on the shoulder straps. Left and right extensions or wings residing under the shoulder strap rearward of the legs provide a restriction of rotation of the body and thus a binding action on the shoulder straps. A cantilever action is induced during forward impact by the tethers pulling on the collar of the body and the binding action on the shoulder straps, thus reducing the forward motion of the body. The present restraint device does not attach to the structure of the vehicle, allows travel thereof with respect to the seated occupant, yet controls the motion of the occupant's head in order to substantially reduce neck loads on the occupant. Moreover, the present restraint device is not in contact with the occupant during normal operation and thus does not induce discomfort or fatigue. Under general forward impact conditions, the occupant's head motion is controlled with respect to the torso, yet the device will restrictively move with the driver's head and torso along shoulder straps of a seat harness of the vehicle.