Saab has always shown an extraordinary dedication to safety, and many lives have been saved by its designs. According to all international crash safety organisations, drivers and passengers are much more likely to survive a crash in a Saab than in many other makes of car.

After its launch, the Saab 99 won the Don safety trophy in the UK, an many other awards have folowed since. But, before that, Saab has conducted many tests. One of these tests was the drop test (see Saab 9000 Drop test), actually a rough simulation and test of Rollover protection.

Drop test – Saab 99 is dropped on its roof from height of 8 ft (2,4m), The Windscreen pillars remain unbuckled and the roof stays upright. Such rollover protection was rare in the 1960s. This test was carried out in secret in 1966, before official launch (unveiled in Stockholm on November 22, 1967.), in an old aircraft hangar.