Multiple Barrel Roll Crash - No Air Bags!

MonkeyMatt · Dec 5th, 2009, 02:30

As a true testament to Volvo safety I was involved in an accident on Thursday that resulted in my V70 leaving the road and doing 3 or 4 barrel rolls down a field. I have attached some pictures. I walked away with only a broken finger so no complaints.

However, none of the air bags were deployed, which I would have expected at least the curtain 'bags to have been deployed. Was this a fault or do they not deploy for some reason in this situation?

Another point to mention is the accident occurred in the dark, so I found myself hanging up side down in a dark field, but all the interior lights came on in the vehicle. IF this is a safety design I applaud Volvo. This allowed me to search around the car to find my glasses (which came off my face during the accident) and mobile phone before then finding a way to exit.

Black knight · Dec 5th, 2009, 03:12

Bees knees! You're lucky to come out of it with such slight injurys. I'd take it easy for a few days, injurys often are not apparent immidiately.

dave.robbo · Dec 5th, 2009, 07:07

Flippin eck!! I'd say you got off very lightly there.. Shows how safe the Volvo is, really. Glad you're ok..

Clan · Dec 5th, 2009, 08:53

glad you were "ok"

the air bags curtains , seatbelt pre tensioners etc only deploy if they are needed, as you were "ok" its obvious they were not needed ..
for example:
you have this roll and the curtain bags go off as you wish ... BUT what happens if you are there upside down and get hit in the side or head on at the front by another car or truck ? you dont have the curtains or air bags there anymore .. Volvo are and always have been world leaders in safety and do know what they are doing ...

the doors unlock too when you have a crash like this and IF you had volvo ON-Call it would phone the emergency services for you with your location ... and they could read out all the data from your car to see what the situation was . they could even tell you were upside down ... and if the engine was running or if the electrics were out may suspect a fire . ( ON-Call has its own back up battery ) all this is due to years of experience with volvo/s accident investigation department in Sweden ..
I hope you will be getting another 2000-2007 V70 soon !

mds · Dec 5th, 2009, 08:57

A real "Brown Trouser" moment.
I think you used up a goodly portion of your 9 lives, take it easy for a few days mate.

Hinckley · Dec 5th, 2009, 08:58

Wow! That's a bad one - I find it re-assuring to see the Volvo safety cell remained in shape, glad you're ok though - I too would have expected at least one air bag to have deployed the side curtain for sure.

trojan · Dec 5th, 2009, 09:23

Sure makes me glad I got a Volvo. Glad you're ok(apart from your finger) and good to see a Volvo doing its job of protecting you.
Any info on what happened?

John_C · Dec 5th, 2009, 10:06

Ouch.... as others have said glad to hear you are OK. Do take it easy for a while as the physical and psychological effects definitely take a few days to fully make themselves felt.

Looking at the damage on the car there is no significant deformation on any of the panels except the roof, so most likely none of the impacts were significantly violent enough to trigger an airbag.

From an energy absorption point of view a barrel roll on a field tends to be one of the most gentle ways to stop - as long as you aren't thrown around the cabin hitting your head etc it's much safer than a single big impact which stops the car instantly.

Cheers,
John

Radarman · Dec 5th, 2009, 10:33

With an accident like that, one you can walk away from, it shows the design gurus at Volvo know their stuff. Glad you are ok.

ps

Do you think it will polish out? :-)

boggymarsh · Dec 5th, 2009, 10:44

I think you are a very lucky man to have got away with the injuries you have , and yes being in a Volvo is probably a blessing, but dare I ask how you came to be in the situation where you have have left the road and rolled the vehicle three or four times? The photos you have put up don't show everything (especially the road layout before the point of leaving the road) and your account doesn't give much away but having attended my fair share of RTCs in a professional capacity I would be fairly close to giving an answer! Accidents don't just happen, in fact you could argue that there is no such thing as an accident but purely driver error or spontanious mechanical fault (which these days is very rare indeed).

Some of you may think that my comments are harsh, well yes they are and I make no apology for that.... atleast on this occassion a police officer wasn't having to go to the family of this driver to tell the bad news! Rather than praising the safety virtues of the Volvo maybe we ought to be reflecting on the manner in which we drive these lumps of steel in an attempt to prevent this type of photo having to be taken?

Dec 5th, 2009, 07:07	#3
dave.robbo T5 Owner.. Last Online: Mar 10th, 2016 15:56 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Gloucester	Flippin eck!! I'd say you got off very lightly there.. Shows how safe the Volvo is, really. Glad you're ok.. __________________ Used to have a P2 V70 T5 SE Auto.. And before that, an 850. Now, a P1 V70 SE auto, bi-fuel, but the gas tank's been removed. Why??

Dec 5th, 2009, 08:53	#4
Clan Experienced Member Last Online: Today 14:20 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: L/H side	glad you were "ok" the air bags curtains , seatbelt pre tensioners etc only deploy if they are needed, as you were "ok" its obvious they were not needed .. for example: you have this roll and the curtain bags go off as you wish ... BUT what happens if you are there upside down and get hit in the side or head on at the front by another car or truck ? you dont have the curtains or air bags there anymore .. Volvo are and always have been world leaders in safety and do know what they are doing ... the doors unlock too when you have a crash like this and IF you had volvo ON-Call it would phone the emergency services for you with your location ... and they could read out all the data from your car to see what the situation was . they could even tell you were upside down ... and if the engine was running or if the electrics were out may suspect a fire . ( ON-Call has its own back up battery ) all this is due to years of experience with volvo/s accident investigation department in Sweden .. I hope you will be getting another 2000-2007 V70 soon ! __________________ My comments are only based on my opinions and vast experience .

Dec 5th, 2009, 08:57	#5
mds Member Last Online: Nov 4th, 2011 15:16 Join Date: May 2007 Location: Horsham	Lucky A real "Brown Trouser" moment. I think you used up a goodly portion of your 9 lives, take it easy for a few days mate.

Dec 5th, 2009, 08:58	#6
Hinckley Member Last Online: Nov 14th, 2011 16:42 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Silverstone	Wow! That's a bad one - I find it re-assuring to see the Volvo safety cell remained in shape, glad you're ok though - I too would have expected at least one air bag to have deployed the side curtain for sure. __________________ Had 1981 265 GLE V6 Had 2003 S60 20T SE Had 2008 S80 D5 LUX Too many electrical problems Last 2009 Merc CLS Now 2004 S80 2.5T SE + Freelander! (BOGOF!)

Dec 5th, 2009, 09:23	#7
trojan VOC Member Last Online: Jan 12th, 2014 18:39 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Sutton	Sure makes me glad I got a Volvo. Glad you're ok(apart from your finger) and good to see a Volvo doing its job of protecting you. Any info on what happened? __________________ Now: Nordic Blue V70 2.4T SE 1999 121K Had: Silver V70 2.5 SE 10v 1998 137k at death VOC 22810

Dec 5th, 2009, 03:12	#2
Black knight Junior Member Last Online: Mar 8th, 2010 21:13 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: York	Bees knees! You're lucky to come out of it with such slight injurys. I'd take it easy for a few days, injurys often are not apparent immidiately.

Dec 5th, 2009, 10:06	#8
John_C Allons-y! Last Online: Jun 8th, 2020 15:32 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Winchester	Ouch.... as others have said glad to hear you are OK. Do take it easy for a while as the physical and psychological effects definitely take a few days to fully make themselves felt. Looking at the damage on the car there is no significant deformation on any of the panels except the roof, so most likely none of the impacts were significantly violent enough to trigger an airbag. From an energy absorption point of view a barrel roll on a field tends to be one of the most gentle ways to stop - as long as you aren't thrown around the cabin hitting your head etc it's much safer than a single big impact which stops the car instantly. Cheers, John

Dec 5th, 2009, 10:33	#9
Radarman Junior Member Last Online: Apr 13th, 2016 17:54 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Carmarthenshire	With an accident like that, one you can walk away from, it shows the design gurus at Volvo know their stuff. Glad you are ok. ps Do you think it will polish out? :-)

Dec 5th, 2009, 10:44	#10
boggymarsh XC70 2008 D5 SE Last Online: May 17th, 2024 23:18 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Kent	I think you are a very lucky man to have got away with the injuries you have , and yes being in a Volvo is probably a blessing, but dare I ask how you came to be in the situation where you have have left the road and rolled the vehicle three or four times? The photos you have put up don't show everything (especially the road layout before the point of leaving the road) and your account doesn't give much away but having attended my fair share of RTCs in a professional capacity I would be fairly close to giving an answer! Accidents don't just happen, in fact you could argue that there is no such thing as an accident but purely driver error or spontanious mechanical fault (which these days is very rare indeed). Some of you may think that my comments are harsh, well yes they are and I make no apology for that.... atleast on this occassion a police officer wasn't having to go to the family of this driver to tell the bad news! Rather than praising the safety virtues of the Volvo maybe we ought to be reflecting on the manner in which we drive these lumps of steel in an attempt to prevent this type of photo having to be taken?

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