Why Volvo is the Safest Car Brand | Volvo Cars Arrowhead (2024)

One of the ways to measure the safety of a car is to look at how it performs in crash tests conducted by independent organizations, such as the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP). These organizations test cars for their ability to withstand and prevent various types of collisions, such as frontal, side, rear, and rollover crashes. They also evaluate the effectiveness of the car's safety features, such as airbags, seat belts, and electronic stability control. Volvo cars have consistently proven themselves in safety testing, earning the highest ratings and awards from these organizations.

Another reason why Volvo cars are the safest is that Volvo has been a pioneer in safety innovations for decades, introducing many safety features that are now standard or common in most cars. Volvo's safety innovations are driven by its extensive research and development in passenger safety, which involves analyzing real-world accidents, conducting crash simulations, and testing new technologies. Some of the safety innovations that Volvo has introduced over the years include:

• The three-point seat belt: Invented by Volvo engineer Nils Bohlin in 1959, the three-point seat belt is considered the most important safety innovation in automotive history, as it has saved millions of lives by reducing the risk of fatal and serious injuries in crashes. Volvo was so convinced of the seat belt's effectiveness that it released the patent so that other car manufacturers could use it for free.
• The rear-facing child seat: Volvo tested the first rear-facing child seat in 1964, recognizing that children are safer when facing the rear of the car, as it reduces the impact on their head and neck in a frontal collision.
• The side impact protection system: Volvo was the first to successfully revolutionize side impact protection in 1991, by introducing reinforced seats, structural improvements, and side-impact airbags that protect the chest and head of the occupants in a side collision.
• The whiplash protection system: Volvo developed the whiplash protection system in 1998, which consists of a specially designed head restraint and seat that can reduce the risk of neck injuries in a rear-end collision by up to 50%.
• The inflatable curtain: Volvo introduced the inflatable curtain in 1998, which is an airbag that deploys from the roof and covers the side windows, providing additional protection for the head and upper body of the occupants in a side or rollover crash.
• The pedestrian detection with full auto brake: Volvo launched the pedestrian detection with full auto brake in 2010, which is a system that uses a radar and a camera to detect pedestrians in front of the car and automatically apply the brakes if the driver does not react in time, preventing or mitigating a collision.
• The run-off road protection: Volvo introduced the run-off road protection in 2014, which is a system that detects when the car is about to leave the road and activates various safety features, such as tightening the seat belts, absorbing the impact energy, and deploying an airbag under the seat, to protect the occupants from serious injuries.

Besides protecting the occupants and pedestrians in the event of a crash, Volvo cars are also highly focused on preventing accidents from happening in the first place, by using advanced features and handling that enhance the driver's awareness, control, and comfort. Some of the accident prevention features that Volvo cars have include:

• The blind spot information system: Since 2003, Volvo vehicles have come equipped with the blind spot information system, which uses cameras and sensors to monitor the blind spots on the side and rear of the car and warns the driver with a light on the side mirror if there is a vehicle in the blind spot.
• The city safety system: Since 2008, Volvo vehicles have been equipped with the city safety system, which uses a laser sensor to detect other vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, and large animals in front of the car and automatically brake if the driver does not react in time, preventing or reducing the severity of a collision at low speeds.
• The lane keeping aid: Since 2013, Volvo vehicles have been equipped with the lane keeping aid, which uses a camera to monitor the road markings and gently steer the car back into the lane if the driver unintentionally drifts out of the lane without signaling.
• The pilot assist: Since 2015, Volvo vehicles have been equipped with the pilot assist, which is a semi-autonomous driving system that can assist the driver with steering, acceleration, and braking on highways, keeping the car within the lane and at a safe distance from the vehicle in front.

One of the most admirable aspects of Volvo's safety philosophy is that it prioritizes the safety of everyone on the road, not just its own customers. Volvo has demonstrated this by sharing its safety research and innovations with other car manufacturers and the public, as well as by setting ambitious safety goals that challenge the status quo.

For example, Volvo has released over 40 years worth of car crash research, involving over 40,000 accidents and 70,000 people, to the public domain, making it accessible for anyone who wants to learn from it and improve road safety. Volvo has also given up patents on some of its safety innovations, such as the three-point seat belt, the rear-facing child seat, and the side impact protection system, allowing other car manufacturers to use them for free and save more lives.

Moreover, Volvo has set a bold vision that no one should be killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo car by 2020, and that no Volvo car should be involved in a fatal or serious injury crash by 2030. To achieve this vision, Volvo has been developing and implementing new safety technologies, such as speed limiters, driver monitoring systems, and cloud-based communication systems, that can address the human factors, such as speeding, distraction, and intoxication, that cause most of the accidents.

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Volvo is the safest car brand in the world because it has consistently proven itself in safety testing, been a leader in safety innovations for decades, focused on accident prevention through features and handling, and prioritized the safety of everyone on the road. Volvo's safety philosophy is based on its core values of care, quality, and respect for human life, and its vision of creating a safer and better future for everyone. If you are interested in buying or learning more about Volvo cars, you can visit Volvo Cars Arrowhead, the leading Volvo dealer in Glendale, Arizona. Volvo Cars Arrowhead has a wide selection of new and pre-owned Volvo vehicles, as well as a friendly and professional staff that can help you with your car buying process. Visit Volvo Cars Arrowhead today and discover why Volvo is the safest car brand in the world.