Some of the countermeasures developed over the years by Volvo to prevent or limit injuries in car accidents are outlined. In-house working methods are examined, in particular the work of the Traffic Accident Research Team. New innovations such as the `black box' crash recorder are presented. A unique method for predicting the safety level of a car before it is on the road is briefly described. A combination of crash tests, computer simulations and accident data provide the input for this. Various safety rating methods are briefly reviewed. The three basic categories a) accident data, b) crash test data and c) expert assessments are described and the advantages and disadvantages discussed. Crashworthiness and roadworthiness are considered by the author to be important factors to be taken into consideration when choosing a car.
Abstract