8.2.2002
Scientific praise for the safety of Saab vehicle seats

Saab Active Head Restraints and Saab car seats have received high praise in a brand new doctoral thesis. In a comparison study, Saab seats were proven to provide highly effective protection against whiplash injuries.

In a brand new doctoral thesis, Saab seats were proven to provide highly effective protection against whiplash injuries. Astrid Linder, collision safety researcher at Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, recently defended her thesis which compared crash safety among different car seats by introducing a completely new test procedure.

"I did this to refine test procedures in order that we can quantify the difference between seats during impacts of varying velocity. In this way, we receive a more complete picture of what actually happens during a collision," explains Ms Linder.

Saab seats are already renowned for their safety. An internal study indicated that the Saab Active Head Restraint (SAHR) reduces the risk for major neck injury during rear-end impact by 75 percent. The study has received much international attention, including a report in the respected US periodical The Journal of Trauma.

"We are satisfied with the validity of Astrid Linder's independent study which proves that we have very safe seats. It is an indication that we have placed the correct amount of emphasis on our safety philosophy. Her new test procedure will be an important aid in our continued development efforts," says Stefan Olsén, development engineer at Saab's crash safety division.

In short, the new test procedure measures the effects of impacts at different velocity. Astrid Linder's test procedure also makes it easier to study how the entire car seat reacts together with the body of the driver/passenger during a collision.

"There are enormous forces at work which have an impact on the body. I have been able to establish that the SAHR is very effective and I have noticed that safety is substantially reinforced by the seat's design."