Volvo S 90, Owner'S Manual

Page: 61 / 548

SAFETY
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* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction. 59
Related information
•
Buckling and unbuckling seat belts (p. 62)
•
Adjusting power front seats
*
(p. 161)
•
Manually operated front seats (p. 160)
Whiplash protection system
The Whiplash protection system (WHIPS) con-
sists of specially designed hinges and brackets
on the front seat backrests designed to help
absorb some of the energy generated in a colli-
sion from the rear (when the vehicle is rear-
ended).
Function
In the event of certain rear-end collisions, the
hinges and brackets of the front seat backrests
are designed to change position slightly to allow
the backrest/head restraint to help support the
occupant's head before moving slightly rearward.
This movement helps absorb some of the forces
that could result in whiplash.
WARNING
•
The WHIPS system is designed to sup-
plement the other safety systems in your
vehicle. For this system to function prop-
erly, the three-point seat belt must be
worn. Please be aware that no system
can prevent all possible injuries that may
occur in an accident.
•
The WHIPS system is designed to func-
tion in certain collisions from the rear,
depending on the crash severity, angle
and speed.
WARNING
•
Occupants in the front seats must never
sit out of position. The occupant's back
must be as upright as comfort allows and
be against the seat back with the seat
belt properly fastened.
•
If your vehicle has been involved in a rear-
end collision, the front seat backrests
must be inspected by a trained and quali-
fied Volvo service technician, even if the
seats appear to be undamaged. Certain
components in the WHIPS system may
need to be replaced.
•
Do not attempt to service any component
in the WHIPS system yourself.
WARNING
•
Boxes, suitcases, etc. wedged behind the
front seats could impede the function of
the Whiplash Protection System.
•
If the rear seat backrests are folded
down, cargo must be secured to prevent
it from sliding forward against the front
seat backrests in the event of a collision
from the rear. This could interfere with
the action of the Whiplash Protection
System.