Volvo S80 Owner's Manual page 29

01 Safety
Safety in the passenger compartment
01
Whiplash Protection System – WHIPS
28
Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS) -
front seats only
The WHIPS system consists of specially
designed hinges and brackets on the front
seat backrests designed to help absorb
some of the energy generated in a collision
from the rear (when the vehicle is rear-
ended).
In the event of a collision of this type, the
hinges and brackets of the front seat back-
rests 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 proper-
ly, the three-point seat belt must be worn.
Please be aware that no system can pre-
vent all possible injuries that may occur in
an accident.
• The WHIPS system is designed to func-
tion in certain collisions from the rear, de-
pending 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.
WARNING
• 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.