It may be quite a gamble, but it’s one that Volvo has pledged to achieve nonetheless. According to a report by CNN Money, Volvo has made a promise, declaring that by 2020, there will zero fatalities or serious injuries in all Volvo cars, including its SUVs.
In the same report, it highlights that to live up to this promise, the brand will employ three steps. The first, to make vehicles as safe as possible in the event of a crash. Step two, to add in more safety tech than one can even imagine. A few of these technologies include adaptive cruise control, auto lane keeping assist, collision avoidance, as well as pedestrian, large animal and sign detection.
The final step involves autonomous driving, a car that can completely drive itself. “If you meet Swedish engineers, they’re pretty genuine. They don’t say things when they don’t believe in it,” said Lex Kerssemakers, CEO of Volvo Cars North America.
Interestingly, Volvo is reportedly monitoring and keeping track of the number of fatalities that involve Volvo vehicles. Reason behind this is so that engineers can gauge how much safer their vehicles have become, each time a new crash-prevention technology has been rolled out. In addition to that, it also helps the company predict how much safer its cars can become with every single piece of safety tech development.
“With the development of full autonomy we are going to push the limits of automotive safety,” said Erik Coelingh, a safety engineer at Volvo. “Because if you make a fully autonomous vehicle you have to think through everything that potentially can happen with a car,” he added.
Previously, Hakan Samuelsson, Volvo CEO noted that the Swedish brand remains committed to being a safety leader with a prime focus on autonomous driving. “Safety is going to come back into the focus, especially with autonomous drive. Safety will be a very exciting area to be within and we will do that,” he said.
It’s not too farfetched seeing as how things are turning out; the XC90 scored 100% for safety assist technologies and 97% for adult occupant protection, achieving the best overall safety performance in 2015, as revealed by Euro NCAP. Meanwhile, the SUV was also bestowed the ‘North American Truck of the Year’ award. As for S90 sedan, its getting semi-autonomous tech for free in the US.
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They can’t protect people from stupidity
No. No. No. This has to be repeated until it clears ignorance. People are stupid, you are stupid, I am stupid, we all make mistakes. All safety equipment from simple brakes and responsive steering to fancy collision avoidance is to help us not die from our mistakes. No matter how bad you drive, safety systems reduce road deaths.
I get your point, that people will still drive stupidly. But people latch on to this argument to justify compromises on safety equipment. There should not be compromises on at least stability control, ABS and airbags.
Meanwhile, Toyota will continue churning out moving coffins till the year 3030
A little correction if you do not mind: UMW Malaysia.
No. If TMC had give a d@mn about their customers lives, they wud gip at least 6 airbags & ESC from their donor cars at little extra cost, like KIA or Honda. These jepunis are just as culpable as UMW.
Kudos to Volvo…with their outstanding track record in car safety measures, I wish all the best to them in their quest. Their effort will surely be beneficial to all of us.
that s90 ass really looks cool!
Uh Oh… sounds like Tony Stark’s Ultron programme. We know how that ended. ;)
Dear Volvo,
In order to fulfill your pledge, right now your vehicles can only sold at developed countries where traffic laws there are very very strict plus you can’t sell any of your vehicles in Malaysia where many dumbf*#ks around on the road that only need be thrown inside Kamunting and Simpang Renggam detention centre.
Volvo must add an asterisk…
*In all countries except for Malaysia.
I’m sure in Malaysia people would find a way to kill themselves in their car regardless. If necessary they will deactivate safety features because they find it mildly annoying, like that thing you use to pretend you wear a seatbelt when you don’t, just so the alarm doesn’t bother you.
It is a noble mission, but they could be opening themselves for numerous legal litigations, especially in the US, IMO. But I guess Volvo Bosses would have already considered the risks involved. I hope.