
WARNING!
In order for the VIC to provide its  best protection, both front  seat occupants and  both outboard rear seat occupants
should sit  in an  upright position with the seat belt properly fastened; adults using the seat belt and  children using the
proper child restraint system. Only adults should sit  in the front  seats.  Children must  never be  allowed in the front
passenger  seat. See  page 30
 for guidelines. Failure to follow these instructions can result in injury to the vehicle
occupants in an  accident.
pg. 26 Safety
Whiplash Protection System  (WHIPS)
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 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 supplement the other safety systems in your vehicle. For this  system to
function properly, 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 function 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.
pg. 27 Safety
Whiplash Protection System  (WHIPS)
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WARNING!
 Boxes, suitcases, etc. wedged behind the front  seats  could impede  the function of the WHIPS 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 WHIPS
system.
 If your vehicle has been involved in a  rear-end  collision,  the front  seat backrests must  be  inspected by a  trained
and  qualified 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.
 Any contact between the front  seat backrests and  the folded rear seat could impede  the function of the WHIPS
system. If the rear seat is folded down, the occupied front  seats  must  be  adjusted forward so that they do not touch
the folded rear seat.
pg. 28 Safety
Child safety
Children should be seated safely
Volvo recommends the proper use of restraint systems for all occupants including children. Remember that, regardless
of age and  size, a  child should always be  properly restrained  in a  vehicle.
Your vehicle is also equipped with ISOFIX/  LATCH attachments, which  make it more convenient to install  child
seats.
Some restraint systems for children are designed to be  secured in the vehicle by lap belts or the lap portion of a  lap-
shoulder  belt. Such child restraint systems can help protect children in vehicles in the event of an  accident only if they
are used properly. However, children could be  endangered in a  crash if the child restraints are not properly secured in
the vehicle. Failure to follow the installation  instructions for your child restraint can result in your child striking the
vehicle's interior  in a  sudden stop.
Holding a  child in your arms  is NOT a  suitable substitute for a  child restraint system. In an  accident, a  child held in a
person's arms  can be  crushed between the vehicle's interior  and  an  unrestrained  person. The child could also be  injured
by striking the interior,  or by being ejected from  the vehicle during a  sudden maneuver  or impact. The same can also
happen if the infant or child rides  unrestrained  on the seat. Other occupants should also be  properly restrained  to help
reduce the chance of injuring or increasing the injury of a  child.
All states and  provinces have legislation governing how and  where  children should be  carried in a  vehicle. Find out
the regulations  existing in your state or province. Recent accident statistics  have shown that children are safer  in rear
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seating positions than front  seating positions when properly restrained.  A child restraint system can help protect a  child
in a  vehicle. Here's  what  to look for when selecting a  child restraint system:
 It should have a  label  certifying that it meets applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards  (FMVSS 213) - or
in Canada, CMVSS 213.
 Make sure the child restraint system is approved for the child's  height, weight and  development - the label  required
by the standard or regulation, or instructions for infant restraints, typically provide this  information.
 In using any  child restraint system, we urge you to carefully look over the instructions that are provided with the
restraint. Be sure you understand them and  can use the device properly and  safely in this  vehicle. A misused child
restraint system can result in increased injuries for both the infant or child and  other occupants in the vehicle.
When a  child has outgrown the child safety seat, you should use the rear seat with the standard seat belt fastened. The
best way to help protect the child here is to place the child on a  cushion so that the seat belt is properly located on the
hips (see the illustrations on page 31
). Legislation in your state or province may mandate the use of a  child seat or
cushion in combination with the seat belt, depending on the child's  age and/or size. Please check local  regulations.
A specially designed and  tested booster  cushion (not available in Canada) can be  obtained  from  your Volvo retailer for
children weighing 33 - 80 lb. (15 - 36 kg) and  38-54 inches (97 - 137 cm) in height.
pg. 29 Safety
Child safety
WARNING!
 Do not use child safety seats  or child booster  cushions/backrests in the front  passenger's  seat. We also recommend
that children under 4 feet 7 inches (140 cm) in height who have outgrown these devices sit  in the rear seat with the
seat belt fastened.
 Keep vehicle doors and  trunk locked and  keep keys out of a  child's  reach. Unsupervised children could lock
themselves  in an  open  trunk and  risk injury. Children should be  taught not to play in vehicles.
 On hot days, the temperature in the vehicle interior  can rise  very quickly. Exposure to these high temperatures for
even a  short period of time can cause heat-related injury or death. Small children are particularly at risk.
pg. 30 Safety
Child safety
Automatic Locking  Retractor/  Emergency Locking  Retractor
To make child seat installation  easier, each seat belt (except  for the driver's belt) is equipped with a  locking mechanism
to help keep the seat belt taut.
When attaching the seat belt to a  child seat:
- Attach the seat belt to the child seat according  to the child seat manufacturer's instructions.
- Pull the seat belt out as far as possible. - Insert the seat belt latch  plate  into the buckle (lock) in the usual way.
- Release the seat belt and  pull it taut around the child seat.
A sound from the seat belt retractor  will be audible at this time and is normal.
The belt will now be  locked in place.
This function is automatically disabled when the seat belt is unlocked and the belt is fully  retracted.
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WARNING!
Do not use child safety seats  or child booster  cushions/backrests in the front  passenger's  seat. We also recommend
that children who have outgrown these devices sit  in the rear seat with the seat belt properly fastened.
Volvo's recommendations
Why  does Volvo believe that no child should sit  in the front  seat of a  vehicle?  It's quite simple really. A front  airbag is
a  very powerful device designed, by law,  to help protect an  adult.
Because of the size of the airbag and  its  speed of inflation, a  child should never be  placed in the front  seat, even if he
or she is properly belted  or strapped into a  child safety seat. Volvo has been an  innovator in safety for over seventy-
five years, and  we'll continue  to do our part. But  we need your help. Please remember to put your children in the back
seat, and  buckle them up.
Volvo has  some very specific recommendations:
 Always wear  your seat belt.
 Airbags are a  SUPPLEMENTAL safety device which,  when used with a  three-point seat belt can help reduce
serious injuries during certain types of accidents. Volvo recommends that you do not disconnect the airbag system in
your vehicle.
 Volvo strongly recommends that everyone in the vehicle be  properly restrained.
 Volvo recommends that ALL  occupants (adults and  children) shorter than 4 feet 7 inches (140 cm) be  seated in the
back seat of any  vehicle with a  front  passenger  side airbag.
Drive safely!
pg. 31 Safety
Child restraint systems
Child restraints
There are three main types of child restraint systems:  infant seats,  convertible seats,  and  booster  cushions. They are
classified according  to the child's  age and  size. The following section provides  general information  on securing a
child restraint using a  three-point seat belt. Refer to pages 39-40
 for information on securing a  child restraint using
ISOFIX lower anchors and/or top tether anchorages.
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pg. 33 Safety
Infant seats
Securing an infant seat with a seat belt
NOTE: Refer to pages 38-39
 for information on securing a  child restraint using ISOFIX lower anchors and/or top
tether anchorages.
1. Place the infant seat in the rear seat of the vehicle.
2. Attach the seat belt to the infant seat according  to the manufacturer's instructions.
3. Fasten the seat belt by inserting the latch  plate  into the buckle (lock) until a  distinct  click  is audible.
WARNING!
 An infant seat must  be  in the rear-facing position only.
 The infant seat should not be  positioned behind the driver's seat unless there is adequate space for safe installation.
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WARNING!
A child seat should never be  used in the front  passenger  seat of any  vehicle with a  front  passenger  airbag - not even
if the "Passenger airbag off"  symbol  near the rear-view  mirror is illuminated (on vehicles equipped with Occupant
Weight  Sensor). If the severity of an  accident were  to cause the airbag to inflate, this  could lead to serious injury or
death to a  child seated in this  position.
pg. 34 Safety
Infant seats
4. Pull the shoulder  section of the seat belt out as far as possible to activate the belt's  automatic  locking function.
5. Press the infant seat firmly in place, let the seat belt retract and  pull it taut. A sound from  the seat belt retractor's
automatic  locking function will be  audible  at this  time and  is normal. The seat belt should now be  locked in place.
NOTE:  The locking retractor  will automatically  release when the seat belt is unbuckled and  allowed to retract fully.
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6. Push  and  pull the infant seat to ensure that it is held securely in place by the seat belt.
WARNING!
It should not be  possible to move the child restraint more than 1 in. (2.5 cm) in any  direction.
The infant seat can be  removed by unbuckling the seat belt and  letting it retract completely.
pg. 35 Safety
Convertible  seats
Securing a convertible seat with a seat belt
NOTE:  Refer to pages 38-39
 for information on securing a  child restraint using ISOFIX lower anchors and/or top
tether anchorages. Convertible seats  can be  used in either a  forward or rearward-facing position, depending on the age
and  size of the child.
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WARNING!
Always use a  convertible seat that is suitable for the child's  age and  size. See  the convertible seat manufacturer's
recommendations.
1. Place the convertible seat in the rear seat of the vehicle.
2. Attach the seat belt to the convertible seat according  to the manufacturer's instructions.
WARNING!
 A small child's  head represents a  considerable part of its  total weight and  its  neck is still  very weak. Volvo
recommends that children up to age 4 travel, properly restrained,  facing rearward. In addition, Volvo recommends
that children should ride rearward facing, properly restrained,  as long as possible.
 Convertible child seats  should be  installed in the rear seat only.
 A rear-facing convertible seat should not be  positioned behind the driver's seat unless there is adequate space for
safe installation.
pg. 36 Safety
Convertible  seats
3. Fasten the seat belt by inserting the latch  plate  into the buckle (lock) until a  distinct  click  is audible.
4. Pull the shoulder  section of the seat belt out as far as possible to activate the belt's  automatic  locking function.
5. Press the convertible seat firmly in place, let the seat belt retract and  pull it taut. A sound from  the seat belt
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