VOLVO dealership Johnsons of Swindon is celebrating the quarter-century anniversary of introducing the first ever integrated booster cushion.

The dealership in Great Western Way is just one of many Volvo networks celebrating 25 years since they developed the very first cushion for children in cars in 1978.

Then in 1990 the Swedish car maker took child safety to a new dimension with the development of the first integrated booster cushion.

Simon Taylor at Johnsons of Swindon said: “Apart from the obvious benefit of increased safety and comfort, the integrated cushion also provides a better seating position for the child, allowing them to look out of the windows.

"This has the effect of making children less prone to boredom and agitation, which can also negatively affect the driver’s experience and concentration abilities.

“The beauty of the integrated two-stage booster cushion is that it is always available and does not detract from normal adult usage of the seats.

"It means in effect that the rear seat is suitable for all but small children who should always be placed in a rearward facing child seat until the age of four.

“This increased safety and flexibility makes the integrated booster cushion a perfect solution for most families.”

Since 2008 Volvo Cars has said communicated the vision that by 2020 no-one should be seriously injured or killed while driving a new Volvo car.

The longer-term goal is to design cars that will not crash.

The first integrated booster cushion was actually a redesigned centre armrest that was developed to safely elevate the seating position of the child so that the existing central three-point safety belt, pioneered by Volvo in 1959, could be used to best effect.

This removed the need for accessory child restraints for older children and also increased their comfort. One of the key benefits of integrated booster cushions is that it is developed as a part of the seat.

That means the safety belt is in more direct contact with the child’s body, removing the possibility of slack in the belt that could be associated with accessory booster cushions and seats or child seats.

Volvo Cars achieved yet another world first in child safety when they added the integrated two-stage booster cushion in 2007.

That enabled adjustment between two settings for the safest and most comfortable seating position for children of varying height.

A range of child seats are available at all UK Volvo dealers. For more information please visit, www.volvocars.com/UK for more information.