As a pioneer of many of today’s safety technologies we take granted for — including the three-point seatbelt introduced by the Swedish brand in 1959 — Volvo announced more details on Friday on its planned efforts to develop more ground-breaking technologies for its future vehicles. And what better way is there to save lives than by avoiding accidents altogether?
By 2020, Volvo hopes its cars will not be involved in any crashes at all, thanks to technology that will allow cars to “communicate” between one another. One proposed measure would be a system that requires a government-built infrastructure using GPS technology that would provide advanced warning of road hazards, Automotive News reports suggest. If a leading car’s ABS or stability systems were engaged on a slippery road, for example, a warning would be beamed to following vehicles.
Less advanced systems we’ve heard rumblings of from other manufacturers include a system that monitors whether a driver is falling asleep and sounds an alarm or otherwise intervenes, and a proximity sensor that would warn drivers they are tailgating the car in front. The latter could advance to include automatic braking systems, at least at slow speeds, that could be triggered by pedestrians. Another pioneering system would involve automatic steering to avoid oncoming vehicles.
Such measures would certainly go a long way to proving recent intentions that have the automaker moving further upscale.
“We don’t accept that people lose their lives in aeroplane accidents, so why should we regard car accidents as inevitable?” says Volvo’s head of safety strategy, Jan Ivarsson.
07/25, 9:23 AM
posted by:
RaineMan
By 2020 Volvo won’t be around anymore. Yet another reason that I’m buying used cars from this point on. I don’t want any electronic nannies that will try to take over the vehicle if it thinks something bad might happen.
07/25, 9:26 AM
posted by:
mulletmaster
Just what I need more crap I dont need to make me a less alert and skilled driver. Plus when these cutting edge systems fail i bet the whole car will be inoperable and cost some serious money to fix. No thanks.
07/25, 9:50 AM
posted by:
928dreamer
A few more years and Big Brother will drive for us. I for one will miss being on the road just man and machine. Instead it will be man, machine and HAL.
YOU: Take a left turn HAL.
CAR: I”m sorry, I’m afraid I can’t do that.
07/25, 10:18 AM
posted by:
xyunya
From corporate point of view you have to tell something positive and this is it. It’s not like sales off the charts.
07/25, 10:19 AM
posted by:
shaver
Im never selling my present cars.
07/25, 11:30 AM
posted by:
crackerhemi
volvo used to be the leading edge of safety; now toyota, acura, infinti, bmw, mercedes all have far more safety features.
07/25, 12:46 PM
posted by:
howsmydriving
When a Volvo crashes, it’s a good thing – it means one less Volvo on the streets.
07/25, 12:51 PM
posted by:
jumpoffit
every time you masturbate, a volvo crashes
07/25, 1:04 PM
posted by:
brassmonkey
I’d better get busy, then. I can only go 5 or 6 times per day, and Volvo builds ‘em faster than that!
07/25, 2:43 PM
posted by:
inline6
crackerhemi, you forgot Saab. They build the safest car sold in America…the 9-3.
07/26, 1:55 AM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
The safest car on the road is the one piloted by the driver who is paying the most attention to his/her surroundings. He/she is constantly checking their properly adjusted mirrors, and is therefore aware of all traffic around their vehicle. He/she understands the dynamics of their vehicle be it rwd, fwd or awd and what this means in terms of road conditions. He/she has the ability to tune out whatever other distractions are currently taking place in his or her life and maintain some semblance of focus that whatever size vehicle they are in control of has the ability to do consequential damage. He/she understands that driving is a privilege- not a right.
And when the opportunity presents itself he/she puts pedal to the metal and enjoys the experience that only the open road can offer.