hide random home http://www.hotwired.com/Coin/Spnsrs/Volvo/Safety/side.html (The Risc Disc Volume 2, 10/1995)

Volvo - Building a Reputation of Safety

Side Impact Protection System

An Act of Congress
Recently, the US. Congress enacted regulations requiring all cars to meet new side impact protection standards by model year 1997. Why? Because, according to the US. Department of Transportation's NHTSA General Estimates System, of nearly 6.5 million police-reported accidents on US. roads in 1990, 31% were side impact - resulting in 84,000 deaths or injuries. Side impacts put occupants in a very vulnerable position: only the doors and window posts stand between driver or passengers and the forces of collision.

Bars In Doors
Volvos have long had anti-intrusion bars built into all four doors. These strong tubular steel bars are welded inside the door frames to add strength. The Volvo 850 uses a steel profile bar in place of the tubular design.

Energy Absorbing Structure
The Volvo Side Impact Protection System on the 900 series has been conceived to accomplish one key objective. Side impact protection system spreads and transfers the energy of a side impact throughout the frame and around the passenger compartment. Through a unique structure of interlocking body elements, crash forces are deflected upwards to the roof rails, downwards to the reinforced door sill, outwards to the strong cross members that strengthen the floor.

Floor & Roof Structure
A wide transverse beam crosses the floor panel for greatly increased strength and resistance when hit from the side. Roof cross panels also help absorb and dissipate the impact of a side collision. 

Models Dealers Safety Options Email European Delivery Program Questionnaire Volvo Home Page

Problems, Questions or Comments, contact:

www@organic.com
(c) Copyright 1994 Organic Online, All Rights Reserved
(c) Copyright 1994 Volvo, All Rights Reserved