Volvo Car Safety Tests

Volvo's Research Center is in the forefront of a car safety revolution that is driving the market and forcing other car manufacturers to build safety devices into their cars. The tests conducted in this center are periodically published and this stimulates the competition vie with each other in providing safety features in their cars.

Volvo tests frontal crashworthiness by recreating real world frontal car crashes. These tests are done to ensure that Frontal configurations are built to withstand frontal deformations and to incorporate elements and components that will prevent injury to occupants of the car during an unavoidable frontal crash.

Research on side impact worthiness of Volvo cars indicate that high riding vehicles like SUV's and pickups are high risk to other types of passenger vehicles they hit. The results also point out that, women more than men are affected when a vehicle is hit from the side. The moving barrier was developed to test the effects of a side impact. The barrier has characteristics of an SUV or pickup truck and the results of the impact are recorded to enable the vehicle safety design team effective guards against impacts of this kind.

Seat and head restraints tests on Volvo vehicles are conducted at the Volvo Research Center simulation shed. The whiplash injuries that result from rear crashes are also examined and appropriate safety measure are designed and built into the vehicles. Rear impact simulation tests are also conducted to ensure that safety is in no way compromised when the vehicle is hit from the rear end.

Crashworthiness tests also take into account the incompatibility and design differences in different types of cars that may be involved in a crash. The geometric mismatch between the different models is considered and provided for in the final design of the Volvo car. This considerably reduces risk to the occupant.

Injuries to passengers in cars can also occur when airbags inflate in crash situations. The size of the occupant, the seating position and the dimensions of the inflating airbag can be factors that create to fatal situations. The institute issues instructions to Volvo drivers to seat themselves in a position such that their chest is at least 10 inches away from the Steering wheel. Specific instructions are also issued for seating children in front seats.

Low speed bumper tests are undertaken to find out how bumpers resist or bear up during a crash. Volvo bumper test results are compared with the test results of bumper tests on other vehicles. The best features of various passenger vehicle bumper designs are taken into consideration while designing the Volvo bumper. Volvo is also working with international groups of insurers to refine the bumper testing procedures. The publication of the results of bumper tests by Volvo Research Center also stimulates healthy competition among the various car designers and brings into focus an area of car safety design which is normally considered low priority.

However, safety devices do not guarantee 100% safety. They at best help mitigate injuries. Drivers must follow traffic rules and take care that they do not drive so carelessly that their actions cause accidents that can result is tragic loss of life and limb.