The three-point safety belt was introduced 1959 by Volvo and wasn’t patented so that other car makers could use it. This Scandinavian manufacturer has been known for its priority in safety and in 2017, at the Geneva Auto Show, they will showcase the new XC60. Apart from the new convenience features, new SPA (Volvo Scalable Product Architecture) platform, the new XC60 also has some new safety features. The new XC60 SUV has been teased ahead of its Geneva Auto Show debut and it has the safety feature that will automatically steer the vehicle out of a problem
In the new XC60, the SUV has the ability to automatically steer away from oncoming traffic in case the driver gets distracted. The system, known as Steering Support, remains active between 50 kmph and 100 kmph. “ We have been working with collision avoidance systems for many years and we can see how effective they are. In Sweden alone we have seen a decline of around 45 percent* in rear-end frontal crashes thanks to our collision warning with autobrake system. With the XC60 we are determined to take the next step in reducing avoidable collisions with the addition of steering support and assistance systems,” said Malin Ekholm, Senior Director, Volvo Cars’ Safety Centre.
Video The new Volvo XC60 – Volvo’s safety philosophy (Video Courtesy: TestDriven Youtube Channel)
The automatic steering assist system is included in the XC60 when engaging automatic frontal collision system such as automatic braking won’t work alone. In addition, the company has also added Oncoming Lane Mitigation. This system not only alerts the driver of veering into oncoming traffic, it also steers the car into the right lane automatically. The Oncoming Lane Mitigation system works from 60 kmph to 140 kmph.
In addition, Volvo cars’ optional Blind Spot Information System alerts the presence of other cars overtaking the driver while in the blind spot of a rear view mirror. Once introduced, the XC60 is expected to be powered by the 2.0 litre petrol or diesel engine tuned for the SUV, similar to the way it has been used in the S90. This would include Large Animal Detection, Run-off Road Mitigation, optional Pilot Assist and semi-autonomous driver support.
The evolution of safety systems has been paramount in avoiding any collisions and while developing countries like India are still to catch up, implementation of safety norms by governing authorities for ABS and dual airbags will surely make driving a safety experience.
