2008 Volvo S40 Owner's Manual - Page 23

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's seat. See page 32 for guidelines. Failure to follow these instructions can result in injury to the vehicle occupants in an accident. 27 01 Safety Whiplash Protection System 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 car. 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. 28 01 Safety Whiplash Protection System 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