Volvo will launch a crash avoidance system as a standard fitment on the new XC60 due to be launched towards the end of this year.
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Safety expert Lotta Jakobsson said that City Safe, aimed at avoiding low-speed collisions in heavy traffic, would eventually feature as standard on further models in the Volvo line up.
Jacobsson, technical leader in biomechanics at Volvo’s safety centre in Sweden, said the system will work at speeds under 30km/h (20mph) on congested roads, where studies have shown that more than 70% of accidents occur.
Speaking at the Detroit Show, she said: “City Safe is a simple and cost effective solution to avoiding low speed accidents when momentary loss of concentration can lead to vehicles running into the back of the car in front.”
It uses a laser mounted in front of the rear view mirror to monitor an area six metres in front of the vehicle. If it detects that the car in front is getting too close it first “pre-tenses” the brake pedal and then fully applies the brakes.
Volvo already has a number of collision-avoidance technologies and a more sophisticated version of City Safe is available as an option on the new V70. This system also works at much higher speeds but is currently too expensive to equip as standard.
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By GlobalDataJacobsson added: “We are doing a lot of work and carrying out a lot of research into preventative safety, in other words helping the driver to avoid a crash.
“There are a number of causes of crashes but one of the most common is running off the road through a lack of concentration or driver distraction. We already have technologies such as Driver Alert which detects a change in the pattern of driving and gives audible and visual warnings.”
She added: “There is a lot we can do but we must be careful that we don’t take away control of the car from the driver.”
Jacobsson said that Volvo’s safety centre was also carrying out a lot of work on protecting pedestrians.
“Again, that can be done in a preventative way, warning the driver about pedestrian activity at the side of the road ahead.
“There is still a long way to go in terms of the research and getting the algorithms right. For example the system must be able to detect whether the vehicle is approaching a pedestrian rather than an inanimate object.”
Volvo is sharing some of its safety technologies with other manufacturers through EU initiatives, particularly in terms of upcoming communications between vehicles.
This will allow cars to send messages to each other about potential hazards such as heavy braking or turning out of side roads.
Jacobsson added: “All manufacturers have to work together on this because we all have to speak the same language in terms of the communication. On congested roads we also need to ensure the right messages are being passed rather than sending out confusing signals.”
