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Chronicling Volvos Safety record
Volvo has always been known to be the automaker producing the safest cars in the world. The automakers motto, "Volvo for life" is attributed to the reliability and safety of their cars. Volvos company symbol, (which could represent either the male symbol, the symbol of Mars or the metal related to the planet Mars, iron; in fact, the same symbol) actually refers to iron ore, and stands for "Rolling Strength."
Thanks to Wikipedia, here is a chronological list of the security features Volvo has implemented and continues to implement over the years in their cars:
1944 Safety cage
1944 Laminated windscreen
1959 Three-point safety belts in the front
1960 Padded dashboard
1964 Prototype of the first rear-facing child safety seat
1968 Head restraints in the front
1969 Three-point, inertia-reel safety belts in the front
1970 Establishment of the Volvo Accident Research Team
1972 Three-point safety belts in the rear
1972 Rear-facing child seat and childproof locks in the rear
1973 Collapsible steering column
1974 Energy-absorbent bumpers
1974 Fuel tank located ahead of rear axle
1978 Child booster seat
1982 Anti-submarining protection in the front and rear seats
1982 Wide-angle door mirrors
1984 Anti-lock braking system
1986 High-level brake light
1986 Three-point safety belt in the centre rear seat
1987 Driver airbag
1990 Integrated child booster seat
1991 SIPS (Side-Impact Protection System)
1991 Automatic height adjustment of the front safety belts
1993 Three-point, inertia-reel safety belts standard in all seats
1994 Side airbags
1997 Rollover Protection System (convertible models)
1998 WHIPS (Whiplash Protection System)"reclines" the seat on impact to protect the spine and neck
1998 Inflatable curtain
2000 Volvo Cars Safety Centre in Gothenburg
2000 ISOFIX attachment system for all child seats
2000 Dual-stage inflation airbags
2001 Volvo Safety Concept Car
2002 Extended rollover protection system
2002 Development of the virtual pregnant crash test dummy
2002 Roll Stability Control
2003 IDIS (Intelligent Driver Information System) delays non critical messages and or warnings
2003 Rear seat belt reminders
2003 New, patented, front-end structure reduces collision forces
2003 Volvo's Traffic Accident Research Team in Bangkok
2003 Four different grades of High Strength Steel used in body construction of the S40 model
2003 Reinforced & dimentionalized B-pillars reduce the side impact from larger vehicles like SUVs
2004 Water Repellent Glass
2005 Door Mounted Inflatable Curtain (convertible model - C70)
2006 BLIS (Blindspot Information System) warns of other vehicles in the car's blind spot
2006 CWBS (Collision Warning with Brake Support) Preempts a possible collision, warns the driver and primes the brakes
2006 ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control) maintains a set distance from the car in front
2006 PAC (Park Assist Camera)
Being the foremost in automotive safety, what will Volvo come up next to make our driving experience worry-free? What innovations can we expect from their quality Volvo parts? Perhaps a new anti-whiplash system in their cars seat system, much like the one from Johnson Controls?
At the 2007 North American International Auto Show held recently in Detroit, Johnson Controls, a Detroit-based auto supplier introduced its "platinum rear-impact solution" a high-tech seat system which aims to help cut whiplash-related injuries.
A new U.S. requirement is set to take effect on September 1, 2008 toughening anti-whiplash standards. According to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, neck strains and sprains are the most serious injuries reported in 30-40 percent of auto insurance claims. Such injuries reportedly cost at least billion a year in the United States.
About the Author: Corey Putton is a 28-year old bachelor from Pittsburgh, PA who has been around cars for the better part of his life. He now works online and writes all about his passion: cars. He is also a certified mechanic.
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