PRESS RELEASE

Volvo Attacks a Painful, Expensive Problem: Whiplash

19 March 1997

    ROCKLEIGH, N.J., March 17 -- Volvo is taking up yet another
major challenge in the field of safety:  whiplash injuries.
    According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), "Whiplash
injuries are among the most frequent in crashes and, because of this
frequency... and occasional long-term consequence... their total cost is among
the highest."
    Whiplash occurs when the head is thrown backwards, usually in conjunction
with rear-end impact.  Symptoms include neck pain, stiffness, tenderness,
numbness and decreased range of motion.  The most serious cases involve
neurological dysfunctions such as weakness and sensory deficits.
    Through a research project entitled Whiplash Protection Study (WHIPS),
Volvo is designing a new seat in an attempt to substantially reduce injuries
in low-speed rear-end collisions.
    If a car equipped with WHIPS is hit from behind, the occupant is thrown
back against the backrest and head restraint.  At that moment, the advanced
whiplash protection system activates.
    The backrest and head restraint come backward in a movement parallel to
the occupant's.  This allows the occupant's entire upper body and head to be
caught in a balanced, gentle manner while much of the inertia is absorbed.
WHIPS helps insure that the head remains close to the head restraint, which is
crucial because the smaller that distance, the smaller the risk of whiplash
injury.
    Then, the backrest tips backward, helping to reduce the forward rebound
that the body is subjected to after being thrown back in the seat which
normally is a major contributor to whiplash.
    During WHIPS activation, the seat moves backward a total distance of
approximately 1.5 inches (40mm).
    Also as part of this project, the structure of the seat backrest has been
improved in order to help distribute the forces more evenly along the back and
neck, which maximizes the protection of the spine.
    Since 1987, Volvo has been working with medical experts to conduct
in-depth studies of neck injuries.  These studies have provided the platform
for the design of Volvo's car seats.  Several international surveys show Volvo
cars -- the Volvo 850, for example -- offer world-class safety during
rear-end collisions.  However, Volvo feels there is more the automotive
industry can do to reduce the human suffering caused by whiplash injuries.
The WHIPS research project has therefore been given top priority in Volvo's
safety research.
    As always, Volvo safety engineers will do extensive testing of WHIPS in
order to fully understand its effect before including it in models available
to consumers.
    In the WHIPS project, Volvo is working with automotive safety company
Autoliv.

SOURCE  Volvo Cars of North America, Inc.