Safety is in our DNA
We invented some of the most important features in the history of car safety.
What started as bold became the benchmark for safety
1959 - Three-point safety belt
Nils Bohlin's three-point safety belt in the PV544 was first met with criticism for 'infringing on human rights'. Now, it's credited with having saved over one million lives thanks to its innovative design.
1972 - Rear-facing child seat
We introduced our first rear-facing child seat, inspired by how astronauts are positioned for take-off. By spreading impact forces, it helps protect children and reduce the risk of injury.
1978 - The booster cushion
The world’s first booster cushion gave older children a safer way to travel forward-facing. By properly positioning them for the safety belt, it improved both protection and comfort.
1990 - Integrated booster cushion
In 1990, we built child safety right into the seat with the world’s first integrated booster cushion. It was designed to work with the car’s restraints, giving kids aged four and up the protection and comfort they deserved.
1991 - Side Impact Protection System
We took side impact protection to the next level with SIPS. This system is a reinforced car body that redirects side-impact forces away from passengers, using a strong structure and energy-absorbing materials for added protection.
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1994 - Side Impact Airbags (SIPS-bag)
The SIPS bag is one of several 'world-firsts' from Volvo. It absorbs energy and distributes impact forces across the torso and pelvis in a crash. The SIPS-bag activates instantly to protect you when needed, and is otherwise tucked away in the seatback.
1998 - Whiplash Injury Protection System (WHIPS)
With a smart seat and head-restraint design, WHIPS was designed to absorb energy evenly in rear-end impacts, reducing the risk of whiplash injuries and providing better support when it matters the most.
1998 - Inflatable Curtain
The first airbag system designed to protect both front, rear and even third-row passengers. Hidden in the headliner, it activates when needed, such as in a side impact or rollover, to help shield heads from serious injury.
Driving safety forward into the new millennium
2002 - Rollover Occupant Protection System
We enhanced our SUVs’ stability with an electronic roll stability control system. Their body design, structure, and restraints have also been improved to help increase protection in rollover accidents.
2003 - Blind Spot Information System (BLIS)
We developed BLIS to enhance driver awareness. The first generation used cameras to detect vehicles in blind spots. The system warned you with a subtle light, giving you more time to react and stay safe.
2008 - City Safety
With our first Volvo XC60, we made autonomous emergency braking standard. Using laser detection, this system helped reduce rear-end collisions and avoid crashes at low speeds. It marked a major step forward in accident prevention.
2010 - Pedestrian detection with full auto brake
Our safety innovations protect you inside and outside the car. Using radar and cameras, this system helps detect pedestrians stepping into the road, warning the driver and automatically braking if needed.
2014 - Run-off road protection
As pioneers in road departure crash testing, our focus is on keeping occupants secure in real-world crashes. We've done this by tightening the safety belt and introducing energy-absorbing seats to mitigate spinal injuries.
2016 - Connected Safety
Slippery Road Alert and Hazard Light Alert harness the power of the cloud to enhance safety. By sharing real-time data between vehicles, these systems warn other drivers of icy roads or nearby hazards.
2018 - Oncoming mitigation by braking
If an oncoming vehicle veers into your lane and a collision is unavoidable, this feature can help reduce your vehicle's speed to mitigate the force of the collision.
2020 - Speed Cap
To send a strong signal about the dangers of speeding, we reduced the top speed of all our new cars to 112 mph, also taking active responsibility towards zero traffic fatalities by supporting better driver behavior.
2023 - Driver understanding system
Humans are great drivers. But sometimes, we have off days. In those rare moments, this award-winning system can help detect distraction, drowsiness and impairment. And combined with external sensor data, your car is designed to determine when to intervene.
2023 - Occupant Sensing
It’s human to forget. That’s why our interior radar-based system, with full-cabin occupant sensing, is designed to help detect even the smallest chest movements. All to help ensure no child or pet is accidentally left behind.
Celebrating milestones that have shaped road safety for all
2019
Equal Vehicles for All (E.V.A)
We develop cars to be equally safe for everyone, regardless of gender, age, height, shape or weight. Since 2019, we've been sharing our real-world safety research with everyone as a free resource, because safety should be universal on the road.
2020
A million more
Ideas that change the world are often the most controversial. After introducing the three-point safety belt, we faced a world of criticism. Since then, it's saved more than a million lives. Now it’s time for the next step. For everyone’s safety.
2022
Safety in mind
We've yet to achieve our vision that no one should be killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo car. To get there, we're rethinking safety from the inside out – with cars that understand the world around them and the state of the driver. Leading the way with this technology is the fully electric Volvo EX90.
We've redefined safety for decades. And we're just getting started.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most significant safety innovation by Volvo?
At Volvo Cars, we've innovated safety features that've had wide impacts on the industry. In 1959, Volvo engineer Nils Bohlin introduced the three-point safety belt, a groundbreaking invention that's saved countless lives. By studying real-world crashes and understanding how the body reacts to impact, he created a design that was effective and timeless. Putting people and their safety first became the backbone of our safety philosophy. What's more, by sharing patent for this three-point safety belt with the entire industry, we've contributed to saving over a million lives.
What is the E.V.A. initiative by Volvo?
Safety isn’t automatically one-size-fits-all. That’s why we launched the E.V.A. (Equal Vehicles for All) initiative: to share over 50 years of research on how real people, in all shapes and sizes, in different seating positions, experience crashes. We believe that protection should be built for everyone, not just the average crash-test dummy. And by making our insights public, we’re pushing the industry to design cars that truly put people first.
How does Volvo help ensure safety in modern vehicles?
We integrate advanced technologies such as high-definition sensors and radar systems to create a comprehensive safety network in our vehicles. This sophisticated array of equipment enables real-time monitoring of the vehicle's surroundings, detecting potential hazards and enhancing driver awareness to help prevent accidents. Additionally, our continuous investment in research and development and testing beyond traditional safety standards ensures that our safety features evolve to meet the challenges of real-world driving.
Why did Volvo implement the Speed Cap feature?
Speed is a powerful force, but with it comes responsibility. That’s why, in 2020, we made the deliberate decision to cap the top speed of all new Volvo vehicles at 112 mph. This proactive step reflects our goal of reducing the risks associated with high-speed driving. We also want to start a wider conversation about speeding as a traffic safety issue. Lower speeds give drivers more time to react when the unexpected occurs, helping to make roads safer for everyone.
Explore our cars
† Starting Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) includes destination fee of $1,295 (EX90, EX30, EX40, C40 Recharge, XC90, XC90 plug-in hybrid, XC60, XC60 plug-in hybrid, and XC40) or $1,195 (V90 Cross Country, V60 Cross Country, S90, S90 plug-in hybrid, S60, and S60 plug-in hybrid). Images may reflect a more expensive trim level with optional equipment and accessories. Taxes, title, registration, license, insurance, maintenance, and other retailer fees are excluded from starting MSRP. Retailer sets actual price. See authorized Volvo Cars retailer for details.
*Volvo Cars’ safety features complement safe driving practices and are not intended to enable or encourage distracted, aggressive or otherwise
unsafe or illegal driving. Ultimately, the driver is responsible for the safe operation of the vehicle at all times. Described features may be optional and availability may vary from one country to another.
**Scenes portraying the car’s sensing technology are illustrative only and do not depict actual footage or true to life visuals of the car’s Safe Space Technology which includes an internal and external sensor set. Lights shown are not to US specification. Safety features support safe driving and are not intended to encourage distracted, unsafe or illegal driving. The driver is responsible for safe operation of the car at all times.
European specifications may be shown. Certain images and videos may show models not available in the US market. Features depicted may not be standard or available for all markets, equipment levels and powertrain options.