Volvo Car Group celebrates 50 years of dedication to child safety

April 22,2014

Volvo Car Group’s (Volvo Cars) dedication to protecting the smallest and most vulnerable car occupants celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2014. This groundbreaking work started with the world’s first rear-facing child seat prototype in a PV544 back in 1964—and the latest innovation is an Inflatable Child Seat Concept that is easily tucked away in a small bag when not in use.

 

The differences in anatomy between children and adults form the foundation for Volvo Cars’ child safety developments both in terms of car integrated features and accessories. Children are not small versions of adults, which is why children need special restraints when travelling in cars.

 

“The basic principle remains the same as 50 years ago. The smallest children must always travel facing the rear until the age of three to four. Older children should use a booster cushion or booster seat that makes sure that the lap belt is correctly fitted over the pelvis,” says Professor Lotta Jakobsson, Senior Technical Specialist at Volvo Cars Safety Center.

Here are some of the most important milestones in Volvo Cars’ child safety history:

 

1964: First child seat prototype

Inspired by how astronauts travel rearwards, Bertil Aldman, medical doctor and subsequently Professor in Traffic Safety at Chalmers University of Technology, developed the very first child seat prototype. Volvo was closely involved in the development and testing was carried out in a PV544.

1967: Reversible front passenger seat with special child backrest

The first child seat to be sold to customers was created by turning the front    passenger seat around. Adding a padded backrest with straps made sure that    the rearward-facing child was kept in place. The solution was sold as an    accessory for the recently introduced Volvo Amazon.

1972: Volvo’s first rearward-facing child seat

Rearward-facing child seats are designed to support the neck and help spread   the force of a frontal impact over a larger area. Frontal impacts are the most    frequent and usually the most severe impact situation.

 

1976: The booster cushion—a world first from Volvo

Children from three to four years and up travel facing forwards using the    standard safety belt with a belt-positioning booster cushion. Volvo Cars’ policy    is that children should use a booster cushion until they are 140 centimeters tall   and ten years old. When using a booster cushion, the child runs an     approximately 75 percent lower risk of being injured compared to being    unrestrained.

 

1990: World’s first integrated booster cushion

The first integrated booster cushion was an ingenious fold down and out    version in the rear center position in the Volvo 960. Double integrated pop-up    booster cushions in the outer rear seats were introduced in the Volvo S40 in    1995.

 

1999: World’s first rearward-facing seat for Isofix

The world-first solution for the standardized, car-integrated Isofix fittings was   actually two rearward-facing seats in one. Both seats—one for infants and one   for toddlers up to four years of age—could be fitted in the same Isofix frame.

 

2007: World’s first two-stage integrated booster cushion

Two-stage integrated booster cushions were introduced in the Volvo V70    estate. The two-stage version, with two sitting heights, enables a better belt fit    regardless of the child’s size. Child adapted safety belt load limiters were also    fitted.

 

2014: Inflatable child seat concept

The innovation, which is still in the development stage, is easy to install and     can be tucked away in a small bag when not in use. This means that the child     seat can be easily transferred between cars and the bag even fits in carry-on     luggage when flying or travelling.

 

World-leading child safety innovations have been a hallmark of Volvo ingenuity. With stern focus on what’s important to people—having their children enjoy while being protected—has brought about smart innovations that has set the bar of child safety standards.

 

Witness how smart Volvo’s luxury is. Visit or call Volvo Alabang, Volvo Cebu, Volvo Makati and Volvo North Edsa to find out more about the new breed of Volvos.

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