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SIPS (side impact protection system) is structural protection that has been in Volvo's since the '73 140's. One major feature is a strong steel tube as a protective barrier across the lower 3rd of the doors. It also integrates with the structural integrity of the A/B/C pillars by virtue of the door/pillar interface design (not the least of which are the hinges and door lock mechanism). This helps maintain the integrity of the passenger cage in both a side impact and frontal/rear impact. The doors are less likely to fold into a "V" and detach from the pillars/rocker/roof so the crumple zones are kept in front of and behind the passenger cage. It's one of the major reasons passengers in Volvo's are often able to get out and walk away from a serious accident when others are badly injured. There may have been improvements along the way, but I haven't noticed them when I've been poking around in my 700/900 doors. Mind you I don't go looking for structural changes, I just assume Volvo is always moving forward in that regard. Prior to SIPS, Volvo made its claim to safety fame with 3-point seat belts. The next step after SIPS was SRS -initially driver then passenger air bags then pyrotechnically tightened seat belts and then side air bags which didn't appear until the later 960's and S/V90's and of course the FWD's. Recent models are even more sophisticated when it comes to crash protection, but considering the age of our RWD vehicles we can at least rest a little easy.
Since I appear to have climbed onto my soap box, I'll add that honing your defensive driving skills is, in my not so humble opinion, one of the most important things you can do to protect yourself and your passengers by avoiding and minimizing accidents in the first place (plus your beloved car is less likely to get written off). If I had my way, a defensive driving course with actual experience on a simulator plus a refresher every 5 years or so should be a mandatory part of licensing. I don't care so much that someone has mastered parallel parking and can interpret road symbols for deer crossings. If someone can't figure out a railway crossing and gets smucked, well maybe that's just thinning the herd. What I care more about is their ability to handle a car under all kinds of real world conditions in a manner safe to both myself and themselves. Sorry to carry on like that, I've just been noticing a lot of really bad drivers lately.
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Dave -940's, prev 740/240/140/120 You'd think I'd have learned by now
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