Volvo Trucks standardizes side curtain airbags

Integrated side curtain airbags now will be standard equipment on new Volvo truck models built for the North American market. Volvo Trucks introduced the driver front airbag in 1996 with the launch of the VN model and made it standard equipment going forward.

Side curtain airbags are engineered to deploy in a rollover, offering added protection for both the driver and passenger, Volvo said. Rollovers remain among the most severe crash types, accounting for roughly half of all truck occupant fatalities, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash data. By making side curtain airbags standard, Volvo Trucks is expanding access to a safety innovation that helps reduce injuries and fatalities in high-impact situations.

This added protection will now be standard on every new Volvo VNL and new VNR as part of Volvo’s safety-first approach, the manufacturer reported.

“Safety is part of our DNA at Volvo, and we continue to lead the way in improving road safety,” Peter Voorhoeve, Volvo Trucks North America president, said in a news release. “Our vision ‘Toward Zero Accidents’ means that no Volvo truck should be involved in an accident. By making side curtain airbags standard, we are taking another important step toward protecting both drivers and passengers in some of the most dangerous crash scenarios.”

A legacy of safety leadership

This milestone builds on Volvo’s decades-long leadership in advancing safety. In 1959, Volvo invented the three-point safety belt and made the design freely available, a decision credited with saving millions of lives. Volvo was also the first heavy-duty truck manufacturer in North America to introduce high-strength steel cabs, electronic stability control, and, most recently, an automatic emergency call system that connects trucks directly to 911 after air bag deployment.