Volvo promises death-proof cars by 2020

Swedish automaker Volvo has kept track of people seriously injured or killed while driving its vehicles, and now, is doubling-down on its promise to put death-proof cars on the road by 2020. After several years into researching ways to reduce automobile fatalities, the company claims it’s closer than ever.

As cars continue to get more intelligent with the addition of autonomous technologies, Volvo plans to use this advancement to reach its goal of zero deaths in its cars. With improved airbags and restraints made with new technologies, the interior of the car can get safer. After that, the exterior can get more futuristic as well.

“With the development of full autonomy, we are going to push the limits of automotive safety because if you make a fully autonomous vehicle you have to think through everything that potentially can happen with a car,” Volvo safety engineer Erik Coelingh said.

Volvo has been developing “no death” cars since 2012, and noted that at the time, state-of-the-art technology stood out most, which made the company venture to make it reality by 2020. And now as other automakers research on self-driving cars, Volvo hopes an array of advancements will allow the company to follow through on its promise.

“If you meet Swedish engineers, they’re pretty genuine,” Lex Kerssemakers, the CEO of Volvo Cars North America said. “They don’t say things when they don’t believe in it.” 

More specifically, Volvo wants its 2020 models to include adaptive cruise control, technologies that will detect pedestrians and large animals, and a collision avoidance function that will rely on radar, cameras, and other sensors to spot obstacles.

A new technology Volvo also plans to use is lane assistance, which uses cameras to detect lanes and alert drivers if they begin to drift. Road signs can also be identified by cameras to help notify drivers of posted speed limits or any upcoming hazards.

Records kept by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety point out that there are nine vehicles, including the Volvo XC90, in which there have been zero driver fatalities during the last four years. Proving that vehicles can prevent deaths with automated technologies could convince the public and regulators that self-driving cars are the safest option.

Source: ExtremeTech and Washington Times