Volvo Press Releases

Volvo Makes Powerful Statement on Distracted Driving With Ads In Major Dailies

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 22:00:00 GMT

The summit is a two-day meeting between senior transportation officials, elected officials, safety advocates, law enforcement representatives and academics to discuss how to combat distracted driving. The ads discuss how Volvo, which is not a Summit participant, has long been focused on eliminating collisions in which distracted driving is a factor. Volvo has done this, in part, by building cars that stop themselves and warn fatigued drivers when they waiver from their lane.

"With the proliferation of cell phone use and text messaging while behind the wheel, distracted driving is on the rise and is a leading cause of traffic accidents," said Doug Speck, VCNA president and CEO. "Reasonable laws that help focus a driver's attention on the road will help reduce collisions, just as laws to enforce seat belt use have helped save lives. By holding this summit, the DOT is demonstrating its commitment to resolve an ever-growing safety issue."

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, seven states currently outlaw the use of a cell phone without a hands-free device while driving, and 18 states prohibit text messaging. Both activities are barred in D.C. In addition to cell phone use, other common driver distractions include rubbernecking (slowing down to look at an accident), driver fatigue, looking at scenery, other passengers, adjusting the radio and reading newspapers, books or maps.

To see the Sept. 30 full-page ad running in the issues of USA Today and TheWashington Post click here.

The New Volvo C30 - With a Sporty New Front And Even More Choice

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 22:00:00 GMT

The C30 is Volvo's most playful and spontaneous car model. It appeals to customers who spend most of their time in the city environment and who impose considerable demands on the car's design, driving properties and personality. The Volvo C30 can be configured in an almost unlimited range of variants thanks to a wide selection of drivelines, design details and equipment levels. And the new C30, which makes its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show 2009, offers even more choice than before.

"Since its introduction in 2006, the Volvo C30 has become highly appreciated for its unique appearance. This applies in particular to the rear. With the new front, it feels as though everything has fallen neatly into place and that the car's entire personality has been boosted to an entirely new level," says Daniel Backman, Product Manager for the new Volvo C30.

The new exterior is also a better match for the way the C30 drives - challenging, direct and with a whole lot of attitude." continues Daniel Backman.

Major exterior changes

The renewal of the Volvo C30 is more comprehensive than is usually the case with Volvo's models. The entire front has been redesigned, including body panels such as the front wings. This gives the car a radical new appearance from the front, carving out a distinctive personality which clearly separates the new C30 from the Volvo S40 and V50.

"By integrating greater depth into the design language, the front has become more dramatic and expressive. Along with the angled lines of the front bumper, the new headlamps, drawn offset and up, reinforce the impression of speed and sportiness," says Fedde Talsma, Exterior Chief Designer at Volvo Cars.

In the middle of the front is the new, larger iron mark just as in the rest of the Volvo range. The air intake has also grown in size and resembles the intake in the XC60. The grille has a new pattern used solely on the C30.

"The fact that the C30 has enhanced its visual volume and self-confidence is entirely in line with Volvo Cars' design strategy. At the same time, the C30 has a one of a kind expression. The new honeycomb grille, for instance, means it takes just a quick glance in the rear-view mirror to see that the car filling your view is the new Volvo C30," continues Fedde Talsma.

Although the biggest design changes have taken place at the front, the rear also sports the same deep new lines and detailing. The contours are wavier and more dynamic than before. The black plastic panels have been replaced with more body colour lower down, in the same or a contrasting colour, to forge a closer visual contact between the car and the road surface.

The other new exterior features:

Elegant and trendy new body colour, Orange Flame Metallic

Visible exhaust tailpipe in the T5 and D5 models

Two new wheel options - and for the first time, white wheels are available!

The option to choose five different colours on the lower trim - the C30 Contrast Colour Collection.

Matching interior updates

The new Volvo C30 also offers a range of new interior options. Among other things, there is now an all-new colour combination known as Espresso/Blond, consisting of a dark brown upper section and a blond, fresh shade on the lower door sides. The blond tone is somewhere between grey and beige and is an expression of Volvo's strong Scandinavian design tradition. The Espresso/Blond interior permits the integration of energetic new highlight colours such as orange, green and blue in the fabrics, as well as a new colour for leather upholster, Cranberry.

"We know that a large proportion, almost half, of all C30 customers make detailed interior choices. They want to decide for themselves what their car should look like and are not interested in readymade packages. The new C30 gives them a range of fresh, modern style cues in terms of both colour and fabric to choose between," explains Maria Uggla, Program Chief Designer Colour & Trim at Volvo Cars.

"We have also focused on making it easier for customers to match exterior design elements with interior trim in an attractive way, something that has been made that much easier with the new Espresso/Blond colour combination," continues Maria Uggla.

Yet another new feature is the luggage compartment cover in the rear, which uses a new material and a new graphic pattern to further enhance the car's modern image.

New centre stack - Oyster Burst Déco

Volvo's special centre stack is already available in a range of innovative variants. Now another new option is being added, Oyster Burst Déco. Volvo's design team was inspired by the surface texture of the classic Swedish Hagström guitars that enjoyed world renown in the hands of stars such as Elvis Presley back in the 1950s. Hagström used the word "burst" in many of its model names and gave their guitars a pattern that shifted subtly from light to dark and back again. Just like in the new centre stack of the Volvo C30.

New expressive accessory styling kit

The Volvo C30 also meets the wishes of buyers with a broader car design interest. A youthful new accessory styling kit with a bolder, less polished style gives the C30 even more attitude. The kit includes foglamp décor, a front skidplate, side scuff plates with engraved C30 logo and a rear skidplate with a stylish aluminium look. For D5 and T5 two 90 mm tail pipes in polished stainless steel are added to underline the powerful engine.

The exterior detailing is complemented by a dramatic interior where the pattern of the floor mats forms a world map. The aluminium centre stack, including inner door handles, is inspired by an ancient nautical chart and a sea adventure map. Its pattern shows longitude and latitude lines as well as dashed direction lines to further emphasise the explorer theme.

New sport chassis with excellent characteristics

The new optional sport chassis for the Volvo C30 is considerably sharper, with stiffer, more distinct properties than previously. The steering is more precise owing to the installation of stiffer bushings. The steering ratio is lower, giving 10 % faster response to steering wheel input. Spring stiffness has been increased by no less than 30 % in order to increase the car's poise in enthusiastic driving. The dampers too are stiffer and are now of the exclusive mono-tube type that builds up pressure much more quickly. The roll stabilizers are stiffer to reduce any leaning tendency when taking corners. The new sport chassis is available in all C30 versions except for 1.6D DRIVe.

Drivelines - considerable freedom of choice here too

The Volvo C30's sporty chassis and steering can be combined with a particularly wide range of drivelines covering the full spectrum of needs from sparkling acceleration and performance to diesel engines with class-leading low fuel consumption and environmental impact.

C30 DRIVe with start/stop function

As of spring 2009, the Volvo C30 1.6D DRIVe is available with an advanced start/stop function that switches off the engine when the car is at a standstill, for instance at traffic lights or in a traffic queue. This cuts fuel consumption to as little as 3.9 l/100 km while carbon dioxide emissions are just 104 g CO₂/km, the lowest in this segment.

Engine range, Volvo C30

The figures below are for versions with a manual gearbox running in the mixed driving cycle.

Petrol engines	Power output	Fuel consumption	CO₂
T5 (2.5 litres)	230 hp/320 Nm	8.7 l/100 km	203 g/km
2.4i	170 hp/230 Nm	8.4 l/100 km	200 g/km
2.0	145 hp/185 Nm	7.4 l/100 km	177 g/km
2.0F (Flexifuel)	145 hp/185 Nm	7.8 l/100 km	185 g/km
1.6	100 hp/150 Nm	7.0 l/100 km	167 g/km

Diesel engines	Power output	Fuel consumption	CO₂
D5 (2.4 litres)	180 hp/400 Nm	6.2 l/100 km	164 g/km
2.0D	136 hp/320 Nm	5.7 l/100 km	151 g/km
1.6D DRIVe	109 hp/240 Nm	4.5 l/100 km	119 g/km
1.6D DRIVe start/stop	109 hp/240 Nm	3.9 l/100 km	104 g/km

Engine facts in brief:

All the engines are extremely compact and installed transversely in the engine bay for the best possible safety and maximum cabin space. Turbo technology is used in the T5 engine and all diesel engines to deliver the best possible performance

A six-speed manual gearbox is available for the T5 engine, D5 and 2.0D

A five-speed automatic transmission with Geartronic is available for the five-cylinder petrol and diesel engines

A six-speed Powershift automatic is available for the 2.0D and 2.0 petrol engines (2.0 petrol only in Asia)

A particle filter is standard on all diesel engines

The 1.6 DRIVe with start/stop function has extremely low fuel consumption, 3.9 litres per 100 km

A few facts: the number of possible combinations, new Volvo C30

The new Volvo C30 is available with a choice of 13 different exterior body colours and with the lower spoilers in five different colours. All told, there is a choice of 49 exterior combinations (previously 13 combinations).

If the 11 different aluminium wheels are added, the customer now has 529 possibilities of creating a unique car

The 27 upholstery choices (previously 15) now make 14,553 combination possibilities.

A choice of 4 decor inlays in the centre stack increases the range of combinations to 58,212.

Being able to specify the car with or without a rear spoiler doubles the number of configurations to 116,424.

The customer can specify a roof hatch - or not. The available variants have now increased to 232,848.

The C30 is available with eleven different drivelines (manual/automatic transmission included), making 2,561,328 possible combinations. What is more, the Volvo C30 can be equipped with a choice of three different audio systems, a variety of safety and security functions, parking assistance, Bluetooth and so on to suit customer wishes.

All in all, there are so many unique variants that Volvo estimates that if every single person in Britain - about 60 million people - were to order a new Volvo C30, no two cars would have to be alike!

The New Volvo C70 Rewards The Owner With Self-Assured Elegance

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 22:00:00 GMT

The Volvo C70 is actually two attractive cars in one. It is as much a sporty coupe as it is a elegant convertible. Above all, however, the Volvo C70 is a car to enjoy.

"The Volvo C70 has classic convertible lines and a strong identity of its own," explains Fedde Talsma, Exterior Chief Designer at Volvo Cars. "We've carefully redesigned the front and rear with a more aggressive presence that more closely mimics the new XC60. Inside, we've upgraded the materials to enhance the C70's atmosphere of luxury and enjoyment inside the car,"

Modern, self-assured front end

With its new front clip, the Volvo C70 reveals traces of the S60 Concept Car that was unveiled in early 2009. The C70 not relates more closely to the design language of the larger cars in the Volvo model range

Bodywork details such as the front fender have also been redesigned, contributing to the decidedly altered appearance. The nose is more wedge-shaped and has been given added three-dimensional depth by moving some elements of the front both longitudinally and vertically. The new headlamps and the décor around the foglamps, for instance, have been angled offset up and to the rear, at the same time as the detailing of the lower grille has been enhanced.

From head-on, the front forms an open, inviting "V." The enlarged iron mark and the new, larger air intake reinforce the self-assured stance. Flamenco Red Pearl is a new paint making its brilliant debut at the Frankfurt motor show.

Exclusive new rear design

The exclusive high-tech LED lamps, similar to what's found on the Volvo XC60, are the most noticeable update at the rear. The entire lamp unit is clearly integrated with the oval that frames the new C70's rear panel.

Like the front end, new lines and details in the bumper and elsewhere have been integrated to emphasise the depth and dynamism of the design language.

Interior that rewards the driver

The interior has been updated in several respects to create a unique ambience in the Volvo C70. The instrument panel has been redesigned, giving it a wider, sleeker look and the surface of the panel has a new texture that enhances the feeling of quality.

The exclusive new instruments, with gauges and graphics specific to the C70, are yet another example of how the car's premium feel has been enhanced.

"We've focused the new interior features around the driver to give the owner a stronger perception of being rewarded behind the wheel. The seats are upholstered in a new type of soft hide and there is even better detail finish to make driving a more pleasurable experience," continued Talsma.

World-leading safety among convertibles

The new Volvo C70 has been engineered as one of the safest convertibles on the market. The car has an advanced body structure and several solutions that are unique in the world of open-top cars. The lack of a fixed roof has been compensated by structural reinforcements and sophisticated technology.

Roll-over protection

The Volvo C70 has sturdy metal hoops that shoot up behind the rear seat passengers to create added protective survival space should the car roll over. These hoops, which are part of Volvo's Rollover Protection System - ROPS - are activated by a gyro-sensor. Since the Volvo C70 has a proper glass rear window, the hoops shoot up through the glass if the roof is up. They have therefore been fitted with small hardened metal spikes that break the glass to guarantee proper deployment.

Unique door-mounted inflatable curtain

One important part of the side-impact and rollover protection is the Inflatable Curtain, IC, which is installed in the door since there is no roof rail to utilize. The curtain has an extra-stiff design featuring twin rows of offset panels. As a result, the curtain can remain upright and help protect the head even if the window is open. Additionally, the curtain deflates slowly, helping to provide added protection in the event of a roll over situation.

Side-impact airbags and safety belt pre-tensioners for all seats

In addition to the inflatable curtains on either side, the front seat occupants also have side-impact airbags. The size of these bags shield the chest and hips. What is more, the inflatable curtain interacts with the belt pre-tensioners to contribute to the best possible protection for front seat occupants in a side impact or rollover situation. All four seats come with safety belt pre-tensioners.

Elegant three-piece steel roof

The Volvo C70 transforms smoothly from a stylish coupe into an open convertible in about 30 seconds. Just press a button and the three-piece steel roof folds quickly and silently away, disappearing neatly into the trunk.

Facts about the roof of the Volvo C70:

The car has to be at a standstill when the roof is raised or lowered
The car only needs about 6 feet of free vertical space when the roof is raised or lowered
There is no need for extra space behind the car while the roof is being raised or lowered
The roof takes about 30 seconds to open/shut (irrespective of climate)
An electric motor, hydraulic pump and computer are used to open and close the roof
The trunk lid has two opening modes: for handling of the roof or to provide access to the luggage compartment
The roof is divided into three sections
The roof panels are made of steel
The seams between the sections are sealed with rubber
The side windows slide up against the roof rail after the roof closes.
The trunk lid is made of aluminium and steel
The body's torsional rigidity improves by about 15 percent when the roof is raised

Engine information

Engine Power output Fuel consumption

T5 227 hp/236 lb.-ft. 20 mpg city/28 highway (manual)

Prince Michael of Kent Awards Volvo the Special International Road Safety Award to Mark 50 Years of the Three-point Safety Belt

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 22:00:00 GMT

This announcement coincides with the anniversary of the fitment of the first three-point safety belt which was invented by Nils Bohlin, a Volvo engineer, in 1959. It is well recognized that wearing a safety belt can increase the chance of surviving a collision by 50 percent(2), meaning that the three-point safety belt is, and will remain, the car's most important safety device.

Announcing this Special International Award, The Prince, Royal Patron of The Commission for Global Road Safety(3), who founded his award scheme in 1987 said: "I congratulate Volvo on its outstanding achievement. Its leadership and commitment will make a significant contribution to our aim of saving five million more lives across the world over the next ten years." (4)

Peter Rask, Managing Director of Volvo Car UK commented; "We are delighted and honoured to receive this very special and prestigious award. Volvo's invention of the three-point safety belt 50 years ago is a perfect example of how the protection of human life is intrinsic to the company's DNA. Now, it is a legal requirement that all cars on UK roads are fitted with the safety belt, I like the thought that there is a little piece of Volvo in every car.

"When Assar Gabrielsson and Gustaf Larson created Volvo in 1927, they famously quoted 'Cars are driven by people. Therefore the guiding principle behind everything we make at Volvo is - and must remain - safety'. The company is now aiming towards a vision that by 2020, nobody should be killed or seriously injured in a Volvo and we are constantly innovating and developing safety systems and features that all contribute towards this vision."

Notes to editors

1. Prince Michael International Road Safety Awards are made in recognition of outstanding achievement or innovation.
2. European Transport Safety Council (ETSC), "Increasing seat belt use", 2007
3. The Commission for Global Road Safety is calling for a Decade of Action for Road Safety with a global aim of saving five million lives.
4. Prince Michael will present this special award to Volvo during his annual award ceremony to be held in London on 3 December.

Volvo Celebrates 50th Anniversary Of Its Invention of The Three-Point Safety Belt

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 22:00:00 GMT

"This is a great day in the history of automotive safety," said Doug Speck, president and CEO of Volvo Cars of North America. "While the three-point safety belt was not the first safety innovation from Volvo, it certainly has proved to be the most prolific. There really is a little piece of Volvo in every car on the road."

Even after 50 years of automotive safety innovation, the three-point safety belt remains the most effective protection for occupants in the event of a collision. The belt reduces the risk of fatalities and serious injuries from collisions by about 50 percent. A design as obvious as it is intelligent, the three-point belt is perfectly suited to the seat occupant's body. It is the safety belt's ability to keep the occupant in the seat that is of crucial importance.

The three-point seat belt stems from a long line of Volvo safety innovations, many now standard equipment, including multiple grades of steel throughout the vehicle, intelligent airbags, electronic vehicle stability systems, Roll Stability Control (RSC), Driver Alert, Blind Spot Identification System, Lane Departure, Adaptive Cruise Control with Collision Warning and Automatic Braking, just to name a few. Adding another chapter to its safety legacy, in 2009 Volvo introduced what might be termed the world's safest passenger vehicle, the 2010 XC60 T6 AWD, which features City Safety, a low-speed collision avoidance system.

"From Nils Bohlin's invention 50 years ago to City Safety this year, we never stop looking for ways to keep passengers safe," Speck said. "Volvo has always safeguarded the passengers inside its vehicles, and with the introduction of Pedestrian Detection technology in the S60 concept car, our vehicles will be able to detect pedestrians outside the vehicle and reduce the vehicle's speed if the driver does not react to a pedestrian in the roadway."

New Dummy Enhances Active Safety

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 22:00:00 GMT

He is a man of medium height and his work differs somewhat from that of the rest of the dummies in the family: Bob never gets to sit in a car during a collision. Instead, he's the one who risks being run over.

Bob may suddenly appear from behind a parked car or around a corner. This is because the dummy is suspended from a crane that can propel him into the driver's field of vision.

This allows researchers to simulate realistic and frequently occurring traffic scenarios.

Bob's erratic behaviour poses a challenge to Volvo's most recent active safety system, which features both radar and cameras. The new technology has the task of first registering pedestrians who suddenly dart into the car's path, then braking the vehicle if the driver does not respond in time.

Bob has been designed to resemble the widest range of pedestrian-like subjects to put the car's safety systems to the test.

The aim is to reduce or entirely avoid collisions with pedestrians.

"We have a lot of faith in Bob when it comes to the development of our active safety systems, and it would have been even more exciting to be able to develop a dummy that could move by itself. Bob is also available in a child dummy, Bob Junior, and will be followed by a female version, all so as to help our researchers develop functions for collision avoidance," says Anders Eugensson, Safety expert at Volvo Cars.

Volvo's Three-Point Safety Belt Turns 50

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Feed out, stretch, click and pull taut. A simple movement of the hand and the belt is in place - at the same time as the risk of fatality or serious injury in a collision is cut by more than 50 percent.

To this day, the three-point safety belt remains the car's single most important safety feature. It is the most widely used and most significant safety innovation in the automobile's more than 120 year long history.

It is the belt that links together man and car. It is the belt that restrains the car's occupants in an impact. At the same time, the occupants are held in place in the car and do not risk being thrown around inside the passenger compartment or hurled out of the vehicle in more complex accident scenarios.

Nils Bohlin understood the forces at work
There is a saying that the simplest is often the best. However, it was only towards the end of the 1950s that the car safety belt evolved into its current design, thanks to Volvo engineer Nils Bohlin.

There were different types of belt before that. Back in the 1930s, US doctors were beginning to impose demands that cars should be equipped with safety belts.

The two-point lap belt was the most common solution, but there were also different variants of the three-point safety belt. The problem was that they did not protect their users sufficiently effectively, especially not at high speeds.

Former aviation engineer Nils Bohlin - before moving to Volvo he worked on the development of catapult seats, among other things - understood early on the forces generated in a collision.

The same principles to this day
The belt must absorb force in the right area - across the pelvis and chest where the body is strongest. At the same time, it must be easy to use and adjust.

The most important properties of Nils Bohlin's design were that the system consisted of a lap belt and a diagonal body belt, that the belt straps were anchored at a low attachment point beside the seat, that the belt geometry formed a "V" shape with the point directed toward the floor, and that the belt stayed in position and did not move under load.

The very same principles apply to this day - every time you use the belt.

On the Nordic market, the Volvo PV544 and Volvo Amazon (120) were the first cars to feature this world innovation. Volvo was thus the first car maker to equip its cars as standard with three-point safety belts. The invention was patented with what is known as an open patent that is to say anyone who wanted was granted free use the design.

A giant step towards increased safety had now been taken, but the three-point safety belt still did not achieve an immediate breakthrough. It would take another few years before the vast majority of customers and the rest of the automobile industry realised the safety belt's effectiveness as a lifesaver.

Volvo survey convinced the world
In 1963, Volvo launched the three-point safety belt in the USA and on other markets. Ahead of the launch, Volvo conducted sled tests and crash tests with cars featuring various types of safety belt. The results were crystal-clear: Volvo's three-point belt gave by far the best protection to the car's occupants.

A few years later, in 1967, Volvo presented its ground-breaking "28,000 Accident Report" at a traffic safety conference in the USA. The report was based on data from all collisions involving Volvo cars in Sweden over a period of one year.

Here too the result was crystal-clear - and the world finally began taking notice. The report showed clearly that the safety belt saved lives and that it also reduced injuries by about 50-60 percent.

More than a million lives saved
Today the three-point safety belt is fitted to cars the world over. Volvo introduced this feature as standard in both front and rear seats as far back as 1967.

The modern safety belt is the cornerstone of the car's interior safety system, working alongside additional features such as airbags, belt pre-tensioners and force limiters.

The belt positions itself correctly in an impact - the pre-tensioner tightens the strap across the torso. It then gives at exactly the right moment so that the body can be restrained as gently as possible. All within a few thousandths of a second.

It is difficult to give an exact figure for how many lives the safety belt has saved - there are no globally coordinated traffic safety statistics. However, it is estimated that more than a million people owe their lives[i] to the safety belt, and it has saved many times that number of people from serious injury.

Considerable potential still remains

Use of the safety belt is still the most important factor for boosting traffic safety among car occupants. In a global perspective, there is still considerable potential. Safety belt use differs immensely between different parts of the world and different countries.

The three-point safety belt has been saving lives for 50 years - and it will continue to save lives within the foreseeable future. Every percentage of increased usage makes a difference.

In the USA, it is estimated that each percentage increase in belt usage would save 270 lives a year[ii]. Studies in Europe show that another 7000 lives would be able to be saved if all EU countries had the same usage statistics as the best[iii].

And the potential is even greater in parts of Africa, Asia and South America where the number of cars is increasing very quickly.

Remember! Everyone in the car should wear the safety belt. Click! Every time.

Footnotes:

[i] Estimate by Volvo based on general and in-house statistics on accidents and belt usage.

[ii] National Center for Statistics and Analysis (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA), Traffic Safety Facts, 2007.

[iii] Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP).

World's Most Expensive Dummies Saves Lives

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 22:00:00 GMT

The crash-test dummy is involved in all research into and development of car safety. It represents the human being in the car and using the dummy, Volvo Cars' safety experts find out how a real human being is affected in a collision.

"It's very difficult to develop crash-test dummies. The aim is to create as close a resemblance to a real human being as possible. At the same time, however, it has to be a tough tool. One highly successful example dates from the 1990s when Swedish researchers developed a crash-test dummy for rear-end collisions. This dummy, which features a very detailed spine, is now used the world over to evaluate whiplash injuries," says Lotta Jakobsson, biomechanics and technical specialist with the Safety Centre at Volvo Cars.

At Volvo Cars, the Crash-Test Dummy family is structured around 19 family members - eight adults and 11 children. The smallest is an infant weighing 3 kilograms.

There are family members of different configurations and for different purposes, making a grand total of more than 100 dummies. The family is so large because it is necessary to include both children and adults of different ages, sizes and to cover different collision scenarios.

Advanced measurement tool

The first crash-test dummies were developed in the mid-sixties and were fairly simple in their design. Today there are many different types of crash-test dummy - European, American and individual designs for specific purposes such as frontal, rear or side collisions.

In order to aid standardisation of crash-test dummies the world over, researchers are now working on the development of a standardised side-impact dummy. This work has gone on for more than 10 years and underlines just how advanced a measurement tool a crash-test dummy is.

Crash-test dummies smash into walls every single day without making a fuss and they can undergo about five collisions before it is time for rehabilitation - or recalibration as it is known in technical jargon.

Dummy inspections needed
During the calibration process, the dummies are inspected and adjusted to prepare them for new tests. Broken parts are replaced and various measurement parameters are tested. It is important that the dummies behave consistently in each and every test, which is why they are calibrated so regularly.

Thanks to the fact that it is possible to repair the dummies and replace parts as needed, they are almost indestructible. The true veterans at the Volvo Cars safety centre are more than 30 years old and they have been involved in hundreds of serious collisions. This just highlights their toughness.

Every collision is preceded by days of precise preparations as the dummies are set up in a special workshop.

There are about 100 measurement points on each dummy, and these are used to register the forces exerted on the dummy's head, neck, spine, chest, hips and legs during the collision sequence.

Detailed studies by engineers

The information provided by the dummies is stored on computer and each test is followed by an evaluation. This allows the engineers to study in detail how much force the dummy had to withstand and how the forces were distributed during the collision.

Thanks to biomechanical research, the engineers can determine how much physical stress various parts of the human body can withstand before suffering serious injuries.

Intelligent Cars Avoid Accidents

Sun, 09 Aug 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Have you ever felt drowsy while driving and almost dozed off behind the wheel? If so, you are not alone in answering "yes" to that question.

Drowsy drivers cause many accidents on roads the world over. Sometimes it may be difficult to ascertain if it is a tired driver who has caused an accident, so the true extent of the problem is largely hidden. What is clear, however, is that drowsy drivers are a large - and global - traffic-safety problem.

According to the American NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), about 100,000 accidents are caused in the USA alone by drivers falling asleep behind the wheel. As a result of these accidents, about 1500 drivers and passengers are killed and 70,000 are injured.

The situation in Europe is similar. German insurance organisation GDV's statistics reveal that about 25 percent of all fatal autobahn accidents are caused by tired or drowsy drivers.

Accidents outside cities more common
Sleep-related accidents occur more often outside cities than other single-vehicle accidents do, and just over 70 percent of all sleep-related accidents take place on roads where the speed limit is between 70 and 110 kilometres an hour (Anna Anlund, VTI, the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute, in Sweden).

Volvo Cars has developed technology that can alert a drowsy driver long before he or she dozes off behind the wheel. The system is called Driver Alert Control and it immediately registers if the car is being driven in a controlled way by monitoring how the vehicle moves between the painted road markings.

Driver Alert Control is aimed primarily at situations where the danger of losing concentration is biggest and where an accident would have serious consequences. This may for instance be on a straight, easy to drive and therefore monotonous stretch of road where the driver feels relaxed and the risk of dozing off increases.

Another common cause of accidents is distraction. A mobile phone may suddenly ring or the driver may drop something in the car and start looking for it. According to the NHTSA, distracted drivers are the cause of 40 percent of all run-off-road accidents.

Run-off-road accidents often fatal
Run-offs account for just over 20 percent of all accidents and almost 40 percent of all fatal accidents, according to US statistics (NTHTSA, 2003). Statistics from other countries also show that run-offs figure heavily in serious accidents.

In order to reduce the risk of run-off-road accidents Volvo has developed a system known as Lane Departure Warning which monitors the road via a camera fitted below the rear-view mirror. If a wheel accidentally strays beyond a lane marker, a warning signal automatically alerts the driver to respond.

Another system that can help reduce run-off-road accidents is Collision Avoidance By Auto Steering, which monitors oncoming traffic with the help of both cameras and radar. If the driver does not respond to the warning signal, the system boosts steering force to help bring the car back to its original lane.

The frontal collision is a difficult accident scenario that often leads to very serious consequences. In Germany, frontal collisions account for 5 percent of all accidents and a massive 20 percent of all fatal accidents.

Even when it comes to frontal collisions, Emergency Lane Assist can help reduce their frequency. This technology will be found in forthcoming Volvo models.

Rear-end collisions are common
Rear-end collisions are a common occurrence and account for 29 percent of all car accidents reported to the police in the USA. In about half of all rear-end collisions, the driver has not braked at all prior to impact.

Volvo C30 Earns Top Safety Pick From IIHS

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Emphasizing vehicles for family use, the Institute usually crash tests 4-door models. To evaluate the extent to which automakers are extending crashworthiness improvements to 2-door cars, the Institute recently conducted front, side, and rear tests of 2009 coupes including the Chevrolet Cobalt, Ford Focus, Honda Civic, and Scion tC, all small models, plus the midsize Volvo C30.

The Volvo C30 and the Ford Focus are best in group of 5: Earning good ratings in all 3 of the Institute's tests and equipped with optional electronic stability control, the Focus qualifies as a 2009 Top Safety Pick among small cars. Also earning this award is the midsize Volvo C30. Seven small cars and 10 midsize moderately priced models now earn the award, the Institute's top safety designation. The list of winners makes it easier for consumers to zero in on vehicles in each class that afford the best overall crash protection.

Read more about the crash tests at http://www.iihs.org/.