Also the Swedish insurance firm Folksam, along with the Swedish Road Administration (SRA), combined research efforts to conclude that WHIPS reduces whiplash injuries by 40 percent in real-life accidents.
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| Will Volvo sell WHIPS to its rivals? It would reduce their lead in the safety market, but would be in the public's best interest. (Photo: Ford Motor Company) |
The same two companies conducted a joint parallel study incorporating crash-test dummies strapped to seats pulled from a variety of 2003 car models, determining that Volvo seats rated highest for safety, with overall injury reduction at approximately 50 percent Volvo's WHIPS system were installed in other brand's cars and SUVs.
This raises the question of whether it is in the best interest of Volvo to offer WHIPS for sale to rival brands, creating what could be a lucrative supplier business but reducing its lead in the safety market. General Motors, for instance, supplies a variety of competitive brands with its OnStar safety communications system, considered to be a class leading product. It seems obvious that it would be in the public's best interest if Volvo decided to make the safety feature available to competitive automakers.
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| The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently awarded its highest five star rating to the 2003 Volvo XC90 on the side impact test. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, Canadian Auto Press) |
Of note, the U.S. government operated National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently awarded its highest five star rating to the 2003 Volvo XC90 on the side impact test, while both the 2003 Volvo S60 and 2003 Volvo S80 received five star ratings for rollover resistance. Additionally the Volvo S80 was the only vehicle to receive a perfect five star rating in every NHTSA safety test category. Volvo claims the results apply to the same 2004 Volvo models as well.
It seems that despite competitive automakers steadily improving safety standards, Volvo remains an industry segment leader.