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2007 Volvo XC90
WARNING!
In order for the VIC to provide its best protection, both front seat occ\
upants and both outboard rear
seat occupants should sit in an upright position with the seat belt prop\
erly fastened; adults using the
seat belt and children using the proper child restraint system. Only adu\
lts 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.
Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS) - front seats only
The WHIPS system consists of specially designed hinges and brackets on t\
he 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 su\
pport the occupant's head before
moving slightly rearward. This movement helps absorb some of the forces \
that could result in whiplash.
WARNING!
l The WHIPS system is designed to supplement the other safety systems in y\
our vehicle. For this
system to function properly, the three-point seat belt must be worn. Ple\
ase be aware that no system
can prevent all possible injuries that may occur in an accident.
l The WHIPS system is designed to function in certain collisions from the \
rear, depending on the
crash severity, angle and speed.
pg. 27 Safety
Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS)
WARNING!
Occupants in the front seats must never sit out of position. The occupan\
t's back must be as upright as
comfort allows and be against the seat back with the seat belt properly \
fastened.
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2007 Volvo XC90
pg. 28 Safety
Child safety
WARNING!
l Boxes, suitcases, etc. wedged behind the front seats could impede the fu\
nction of the WHIPS
system.
l If the rear seat backrests are folded down, cargo must be secured to pre\
vent it from sliding forward
against the front seat backrests in the event of a collision from the re\
ar. This could interfere with the
action of the WHIPS system.
l If your vehicle has been involved in a rear-end collision, the front sea\
t backrests must be inspected
by a trained and qualified Volvo service technician, even if the seats a\
ppear to be undamaged. Certain
components in the WHIPS system may need to be replaced.
l Do not attempt to service any component in the WHIPS system yourself.
l Any contact between the front seat backrests and the folded rear seat co\
uld impede the function of
the WHIPS system. If the rear seat is folded down, the occupied front se\
ats must be adjusted forward
so that they do not touch the folded rear seat.
Children should be seated safely
Volvo recommends the proper use of restraint systems for all occupants i\
ncluding children. Remember
that, regardless of age and size, a child should always be properly rest\
rained 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 ve\
hicle by lap belts or the lap
portion of a lap-shoulder belt. Such child restraint systems can help pr\
otect children in vehicles in the
event of an accident only if they are used properly. However, children c\
ould be endangered in a crash if
the child restraints are not properly secured in the vehicle. Failure to\
follow the installation instructions
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2007 Volvo XC90
WARNING!
l 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.
l On hot days, the temperature in the vehicle interior can rise very quick\
ly. Exposure to these high
temperatures for even a short period of time can cause heat-related inju\
ry 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 man\
ufacturer'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 an\
d the belt is fully
retracted.
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 v\
ehicle? 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 sh\
ould never be placed in the front
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2007 Volvo XC90
seat, even if he or she is properly belted or strapped into a child safe\
ty 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:
l Always wear your seat belt.
l Airbags are a SUPPLEMENTAL safety device which, when used with a three-p\
oint seat belt can help
reduce serious injuries during certain types of accidents. Volvo recomme\
nds that you do not disconnect
the airbag system in your vehicle.
l Volvo strongly recommends that everyone in the vehicle be properly restr\
ained.
l 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 airba\
g.
Drive safely!
pg. 31 Safety
Child restraint systems
Child restraints
There are three main types of child restraint systems: infant seats, con\
vertible 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 anchor\
s
and/or top tether anchorages.
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2007 Volvo XC90
Child restraint systems
WARNING!
l When not in use, keep the child restraint system secured or remove it fr\
om the passenger
compartment to help prevent it from injuring passengers in the event of \
a sudden stop or collision.
l 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 res\
trained, as long as possible.
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 anchor\
s
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 (l\
ock) until a distinct click is audible.
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2007 Volvo XC90
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.
6. Push and pull the infant seat to ensure that it is held securely in p\
lace by the seat belt.
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2007 Volvo XC90
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 i\
t 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 anchor\
s
and/or top tether anchorages.
Convertible seats can be used in either a forward or rearward-facing pos\
ition, depending on the age and
size of the child.
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2007 Volvo XC90
WARNING!
Always use a convertible seat that is suitable for the child's age and s\
ize. 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 manufac\
turer's instructions.
WARNING!
l 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 res\
trained, as long as possible.
l Convertible child seats should be installed in the rear seat only.
l A rear-facing convertible seat should not be positioned behind the drive\
r's seat unless there is
adequate space for safe installation.
pg. 36 Safety
Convertible seats
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