Resource Title 1

This case highlights the role of engineers in vehicle safety. Whiplash is one of the most common injuries in motor vehicle accidents. Although it is not life threatening, it can have significant and long-lasting effects on quality of life, and, historically, women have been disproportionately impacted by this type of injury. In the 1990s, Volvo reengineered the company’s existing seating system to reduce these risks, despite having an incomplete understanding of the mechanisms of whiplash injuries. Case materials explore how Volvo engineers developed engineering requirements and corresponding testing procedures, consider the efficacy of their approach, and guide students in reflecting on how engineers account for human variability.