Proper seating

Appropriate seating and proper seatbelt use are essential for the safety and comfort of everyone in the car. There are also specific recommendations for pregnancy and child seating.

 Important

Importance of proper seating

Safety features, such as seatbelts and airbags, require that all occupants are properly seated for the best chance of effective protection in a collision. Failure to follow the seating instructions can endanger life or lead to serious injury.

Pregnancy

Take extra care to follow all seating recommendations if the occupant is pregnant. The following are either additions or of extra importance:

  • Make sure that the seatbelt does not cross the belly. The hip strap should be under the belly and the shoulder section should pass above it.
  • If seated in the driver's seat, avoid sitting closer to the steering wheel than necessary. Adjust the seat to create as much distance between the belly and wheel as possible while also keeping all driver controls comfortably within reach.

Child seating needs

Always seat children with extra care and attention to their needs. Make sure you have the required child restraint, that it's installed correctly and that the child remains safely seated throughout the entire trip. For children travelling forward-facing, the same seating recommendations apply as for adults. Always make sure the seatbelt is properly adjusted and that the headrest is at a height suitable for the child when possible.

 Note

Physical limitations

Physical limitations can prevent an occupant from following the seating recommendations. The car may need modifications to accommodate safe use. Contact an authorised Volvo workshop for information about Volvo-approved modifications.

Sitting posture

Both sitting posture and proper seatbelt adjustment are important for safety. Avoid irregular sitting postures.

Correct sitting posture
A correctly seated occupant. Do not adopt other postures when the car is moving.
Incorrect sitting posture
Do not slide forward in the seat. The lower back should have contact with the backrest.
Incorrect sitting posture
Keep both feet planted on the floor.
Incorrect sitting posture
Do not tilt the backrest to a lying position. The seatbelt must remain tensioned against the shoulder.

Whiplash protection considerations

Proper headrest use is essential to reduce the risk of neck injuries in a collision. All of the car's headrests are designed to help protect the head and neck when used correctly. As an added safety feature, the front seats' construction can reduce the risk of whiplash injuries in certain collisions. These seats are designed to shift in a way that lowers whiplash-associated forces.
  • Keep the back of your head against the headrest.
  • Make sure occupants have correctly adjusted headrests where possible.
  • Avoid stowing luggage against the back of the front seats. It can prevent the seat from moving as intended in the event of a collision.