Safety
Volvo continues to develop new safety technologies that are expected to substantially decrease vehicular accidents.
The Swedish auto maker has recently become “extremely focused on safety in the sense of preventive safety,” said Todd Hallenbeck, Volvo Cars Australia spokesperson.
Volvo has made safety its utmost concern, often initiating such measures by supplying safety-related Volvo parts ahead of legislative mandates. Several safety innovations have found their way into the latest Volvo models. These include a driver alert control (DAC) system to alert tired and inattentive drivers, a lane departure warning (LDW) system, and collision warning system with automatic Volvo brake function to help prevent front-to-rear impacts. Both DAC and LDW are included in the same option package called the driver alert system, which debuted on the Volvo S80, V70, and XC70 models in Europe last year.
Research shows that 90 percent of all car crashes are caused by distraction among drivers. To prevent that, Volvo features the DAC system which alerts drivers when concentration levels are affected especially during long trips.
The new Volvo S80 is also equipped with a collision warning system, which comes with an auto brake system that helps prevent rear-end collisions. This safety device detects a looming impact and brakes to slow the car when the driver fails to react. The collision warning system uses a red warning light in the head-up display and a voice signal to alert the driver of an impending harm. According to Volvo, the collision warning system will be available as an option on the S80, V70, and XC70 models by the end of the year. An auto brake system is currently in the works.
For many years, the Swedish auto maker has been at the forefront of producing Volvo parts that ensure vehicular safety. In 1944, Volvo was the first to offer laminated windscreens. It also introduced the lap-sash seatbelt in 1959 and the driver’s airbag in 1987. A new Volvo feature called the Distance Alert helps the driver keep an adequate distance to the vehicle in front.
