Volvo achieves high scores in the latest Thatcham whiplash ratings

(12/05/2008)

Volvo has achieved high scores across its model range in the latest whiplash ratings by the UK’s Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre, Thatcham.

Thatcham has been testing seats since 2004 for their ability to protect the occupant from whiplash injuries. The 2008 Model Year testing again confirms manufacturers from around the globe are listening to Thatcham and introducing new seat designs that can protect their occupants from whiplash injuries. Now over one third of all new seats are rated as ‘GOOD’. Only 16% are rated as ‘POOR’ and these are mostly older designs due for replacement.

Volvo was one of only three manufacturers 9with Audi and Saab) to achieve an ‘All Good’ rating, with top ‘Good’ scores for every model tested thanks to its supportive seats which have a fixed head restraint position to ensure they are always in the correct position to offer the best support and WHIPS (Whiplash Protection System).

Matthew Avery, Crash Laboratory Manager at Thatcham said: “Volvo has shown a continuing commitment to safety, and their seats once again performed very well in our tests. This is supported by real world injury data which confirms that these seats do produce a significant reduction in whiplash injuries – Volvo continues to be the trend setter in this area.”

All models in the Volvo range feature WHIPS as standard. WHIPS reduces acceleration forces on the neck during a rear-end accident by about a half. In the event of an accident, the entire backrest moves rearwards to reduce the strain on the occupant’s back and neck. Then, when their back has been safely restrained by the backrest, it inclines backwards in order to reduce the force that would otherwise throw their head forwards.

Volvo’s traffic accident research team compared real-life whiplash injuries from Volvos with and without WHIPS, and the results point to a clear conclusion: WHIPS reduced short-term and long-term (of more than a year) injuries by 33 per cent and 54 per cent respectively, while whiplash injuries in women were reduced by as much as 50 per cent and 75 per cent, respectively.

Related categories:  Audi   Car insurance   Saab   Volvo 

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