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Injuries in side impact collisions constitute one fourth of the serious or fatal injuries sustained by occupants in ordinary passenger cars. The Volvo Side Impact Protection System (SIPS) provides a substantially enhanced protection for car occupants in side collisions. The protection level of the SIPS system has been further increased by the addition of the Sipsbag, a quick-deploying side impact airbag system integrated in the seat backrest. The design of the non-electrical Sipsbag system is explained, as well as the advantages with a completely seat-integrated system. The process to industrialise the side airbag concept is summarised. Laboratory test results are discussed. Using methodology to correlate laboratory test data with accident data, an estimate of the injury-reducing effectiveness of the SIPS and Sipsbag system is made.

Various possibilities to improve the rearward view in passenger cars have been studied, with the aim, among others, to eliminate “dead angle”. Tests have been performed with periscopes, vehicle TV, combined mirrors and mirrors with continuously variable curvature. The later ones have been optimized to a well functioning solution.

The geometry and behavior of several front-seat passive belt configurations have been studied and evaluated. General design criteria are discussed. The preferred solution is a three-point belt with two ends attached to the door. The belt straps automatically, and for comfortable exit, the occupant may make a slight manual operation. Crash tests indicate that the belt performs approximately as a standard three-point belt. Door strength, retractor strength, strap strength and tension, seat influence, etc., have been tested. Curves are given for recorded and computed data, including old and new severity index.

Consumers' acceptance of and attitude toward a passive three-point belt system have been studied and evaluated in a personal interview investigation of 325 people. These participants were provided with the opportunity to try out the belt system in two demonstration cars-2-door and 4-door sedans. The method of selecting the respondents complied very well with the requirements of public representation. The results of the inquiry are presented in the full survey as related to driver, passenger, age, sex, etc. The main question in the study-the convenience when entering or leaving the demonstration car-was very positively judged. The most frequent opinion on a 7-point evaluation scale was as high as 7 (most positive); the average value of 6.2-5.9 was given for wide- and half-open doors, respectively.