X

First came ABS braking, then came active suspension, then came the onboard computer that was able to adjust a car as it started to slide. Now we have the car you can’t crash, thanks to Volvo.

That sickening – not to mention painful – feeling as your car crunches into a vehicle in front looks like becoming just an expensive memory for drivers.

Volvo has come up with a crash-proof family car which will go on sale in the autumn. Its secret is a laser-guidance system to spot vehicles in front that are too close or stopping suddenly. When it does, the Volvo will stop of its own accord to avoid a smash.


Click to enlarge

Sci-fi reality: The crash-proof car spots dawdling vehicles using a laser-guidance system installed in the windscreen The CitySafety system, which kicks in at speeds of up to 20klm and is designed for urban driving, has the potential to prevent half of all rear-end collisions, said Volvo.

A laser sensor built into the windscreen reacts to traffic in front that is either stationary or moving in the same direction. It scans up to six yards ahead and, sensing the difference in speed between it and a vehicle in front, it makes 50 calculations a second to determine the braking force needed to avoid crashing.

 

If the driver fails to slow, the system brakes automatically and disables the accelerator. The system will be standard in the XC60 model Volvo. But Jonas Ekmark, of Volvo, said: “It is important to stress that CitySafety does not relieve the driver of the responsibility from maintaining a safe distance.”

Safety experts say this and similar technology being developed by other makers will help save more than 125,000 painful and costly whiplash injuries alone each year.

Rear-end collisions make up 29 per cent of all reported car accidents. In more than half, the driver does not brake at all. And 90 per cent of all such collisions are partly due to distracted drivers.

Three-quarters of all collisions happen at speeds up to 25 klh. Volvo said that if the relative speed difference between two vehicles was below 10mph the system can help avoid a collision entirely.

“Between 10mph and 20mph, the focus is on reducing speed as much as possible before impact,” said Volvo. At higher speeds, including on motorways, a separate “adaptive cruise control” system keeps the car safe from traffic in front by braking and accelerating as necessary.

Volvo, Mercedes and Honda will be demonstrating their anti-collision technology at a driver training centrein the UK this week.. A spokesman for the centre said: “It sounds like sci-fi fantasy – cars that can’t crash. But the fictional notion is about to become reality.”

appliance retailer leaderboard may 728x90 Hitachi updated The Car You Cant Crash Made By Volvo
FLOODLIGHT 2024 Banner 728x90px The Car You Cant Crash Made By Volvo
728x90 The Car You Cant Crash Made By Volvo
Px7 S3 728x90 1 The Car You Cant Crash Made By Volvo
ELX DIG Crosscat Promo 728x90 Mar25 The Car You Cant Crash Made By Volvo
Flick of a switch 728x90 1 The Car You Cant Crash Made By Volvo
728x90 The Car You Cant Crash Made By Volvo
4Square Media Banner Ads Update at 5 July JSAU05JUL1 Buddy 728x90 1 The Car You Cant Crash Made By Volvo
BlueAnt 4SQM PumpAirUltra 728x90px The Car You Cant Crash Made By Volvo
GOTHAM 728px x 90px The Car You Cant Crash Made By Volvo
BEL2535 BPB024 4SQ Banners 728x90 The Car You Cant Crash Made By Volvo
Hisense KV BannerAd 728 90 The Car You Cant Crash Made By Volvo
MOTO 36331576 Q3 Ad Banners 728x90 2 The Car You Cant Crash Made By Volvo
Uniden Channelnews SoloX July 2024 728x90 1 The Car You Cant Crash Made By Volvo
HAIER Series 600 FLW HPD Pairs 728x90 1 The Car You Cant Crash Made By Volvo
250527 SAV Channel news June25 Leaderboard 728x90 1 The Car You Cant Crash Made By Volvo
Skullcandy 728x90 1 The Car You Cant Crash Made By Volvo
JBL TourPro3 728x90 The Car You Cant Crash Made By Volvo
Marshall 728x90 1 The Car You Cant Crash Made By Volvo
4Square Media Banner Ads Update at 5 July JSAU05JUL1 MR 728x90 1 The Car You Cant Crash Made By Volvo
Westan 728x90px The Car You Cant Crash Made By Volvo
AU X8 Banner 728x90 The Car You Cant Crash Made By Volvo
728 x 90 The Car You Cant Crash Made By Volvo
FA 979 HN MDF SG14 14gen 728x90 1 The Car You Cant Crash Made By Volvo
ChannelNews AZ100 728x90 The Car You Cant Crash Made By Volvo


YOU MAY ALSO LIKE