Safety innovations year by year
This is a list of all important safety features
introduced by Volvo during the history of Volvo Cars.
1940’s
1944 Safety cage
1944 Laminated windscreen
1950’s
1954 Defroster vents for windscreen
1956 Windscreen washers
1957 Anchor points for 2–point safety belts front
1958 Anchor points for 2–point safety belts rear
1959 3–point front safety belts standard
1960’s
1960 Padded instrument panel
1964 Disc brakes front
1964 First rearward–facing child safety seat prototype tested
1966 Rear windscreen defroster
1966 Disc brakes all around
1966 Dual split triangular braking system
1966 Crumple zones front and rear
1966 Safety door–locks
1967 Safety belt rear seats
1968 Head restraints front
1969 Inertia reel safety belts
1969 Heated rear windscreen
1970’s
1971 Reminder safety belt
1972 3–point safety belts – rear
1972 Rearward–facing child safety seat
1972 Childproof locks on rear doors
1972 Warning lights (hazard)
1973 Side collision protection
1973 Collapsible steering wheel
1974 Energy absorbing bumpers
1974 Safe location of fuel tank
1974 Multistage impact absorbing steering column
1974 Bulb integrity sensor
1974 Headlight wiper/washer
1975 Day running lamps
1975 Braking system with stepped bore master cylinder
1978 Child safety booster cushion
1980’s
1982 "Anti–submarining" protection
1982 Fog lamps front
1982 Fog lamps rear
1982 Warning lights in opened door
1982 Wide angle rear view mirror
1984 ABS anti–locking brakes
1985 ETC – Electronic Traction Control
1986 Brake lights in rear window
1986 Three–point safety belt centre rear seat
1987 Mechanical safety belt pre–tensioner
1987 Airbag – driver
1990’s
1990 Integrated child safety cushion in centre rear seat
1991 SIPS – Side Impact Protection System
1991 Automatic height adjusting safety belt
1992 Reinforced rear seats in estate models
1992 Passenger airbag front
1993 Three–point inertia–reel safety belts – all rear positions
1994 SIPS–bag, side airbag
1995 DSA – Dynamic Stability Assistance
1995 Integrated child safety cushion outer rear seats
1997 ROPS – Roll Over Protection System (C70)
1998 WHIPS – Whiplash Protection System
1998 IC – Inflatable Curtain
1998 STC – Stability and Traction Control
1998 DSTC – Dynamic Stability and Traction Control
1998 EBD – Electronic Brake Distribution
2000’s
2000 ISOFIX anchorages with rearward–facing child safety seat
2000 Dual Stage Airbag
2000 Volvo On Call
2001 SCC – Volvo Safety Concept Car
2002 RSC – Roll Stability Control
2002 ROPS – Roll Over Protection System (XC90)
2002 New integrated child seat 2nd row (XC90)
2002 Lower Cross Member (XC90)
2002 New compatible front design (XC90)
2002 Safe 3rd row seats (XC90)
2002 New Front Structure (XC90)
2003 New Front Structure (S40, V50)
2003 IDIS – Intelligent Driver Information System
2004 BLIS – Blind Spot Information System
2004 Water repellent glass
2004 DMIC – door–mounted inflatable side–impact curtain for convertibles
2004 ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control)
2004 Collision warning system with brake booster and automatic braking functions
2005 Multi Lock, combined alco–lock and seat belt lock and speed limiter key (research project)
Related Topic: Volvo's Environmental Record
