Chronicling Volvo's Safety record

Volvo has always been known to be the automakerSafety Concept Car • 2002 Extended
producing the safest cars in the world. Therollover protection system • 2002
automaker's motto, "Volvo for life" is attributed to theDevelopment of the virtual pregnant crash test dummy
reliability and safety of their cars. Volvo's company• 2002 Roll Stability Control • 2003
symbol, (which could represent either the male symbol,IDIS (Intelligent Driver Information System) delays non
the symbol of Mars or the metal related to the planetcritical messages and or warnings • 2003
Mars, iron; in fact, the same symbol) actually refers toRear seat belt reminders • 2003 New,
iron ore, and stands for "Rolling Strength."patented, front-end structure reduces collision forces
Thanks to Wikipedia, here is a chronological list of the• 2003 Volvo's Traffic Accident Research
security features Volvo has implemented andTeam in Bangkok • 2003 Four different
continues to implement over the years in their cars:grades of High Strength Steel used in body
• 1944 Safety cage • 1944construction of the S40 model • 2003
Laminated windscreen • 1959 Three-pointReinforced & dimentionalized B-pillars reduce the
safety belts in the front • 1960 Paddedside impact from larger vehicles like SUVs •
dashboard • 1964 Prototype of the first2004 Water Repellent Glass • 2005 Door
rear-facing child safety seat • 1968 HeadMounted Inflatable Curtain (convertible model - C70)
restraints in the front • 1969 Three-point,• 2006 BLIS (Blindspot Information System)
inertia-reel safety belts in the front • 1970warns of other vehicles in the car's blind spot
Establishment of the Volvo Accident Research Team• 2006 CWBS (Collision Warning with Brake
• 1972 Three-point safety belts in the rearSupport) Preempts a possible collision, warns the driver
• 1972 Rear-facing child seat and childproofand primes the brakes • 2006 ACC
locks in the rear • 1973 Collapsible steering(Adaptive Cruise Control) maintains a set distance
column • 1974 Energy-absorbent bumpersfrom the car in front • 2006 PAC (Park
• 1974 Fuel tank located ahead of rear axleAssist Camera)
• 1978 Child booster seat • 1982Being the foremost in automotive safety, what will
Anti-submarining protection in the front and rear seatsVolvo come up next to make our driving experience
• 1982 Wide-angle door mirrors •worry-free? What innovations can we expect from
1984 Anti-lock braking system • 1986their quality Volvo parts? Perhaps a new anti-whiplash
High-level brake light • 1986 Three-pointsystem in their cars' seat system, much like the one
safety belt in the centre rear seat • 1987from Johnson Controls?
Driver airbag • 1990 Integrated child boosterAt the 2007 North American International Auto Show
seat • 1991 SIPS (Side-Impact Protectionheld recently in Detroit, Johnson Controls, a
System) • 1991 Automatic height adjustmentDetroit-based auto supplier introduced its "platinum
of the front safety belts • 1993 Three-point,rear-impact solution" - a high-tech seat system which
inertia-reel safety belts standard in all seats •aims to help cut whiplash-related injuries. A new U.S.
1994 Side airbags • 1997 Rollover Protectionrequirement is set to take effect on September 1,
System (convertible models) • 1998 WHIPS2008 toughening anti-whiplash standards. According to
(Whiplash Protection System)"reclines" the seat onthe Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, neck strains
impact to protect the spine and neck • 1998and sprains are the most serious injuries reported in
Inflatable curtain • 2000 Volvo Cars Safety30-40 percent of auto insurance claims. Such injuries
Centre in Gothenburg • 2000 ISOFIXreportedly cost at least $7 billion a year in the United
attachment system for all child seats • 2000States.
Dual-stage inflation airbags • 2001 Volvo