Volvo introduces Driver Support Line

Volvo Cars Netherlands introduces the Driver Support Line: a package of options that piece by piece help Volvo 's driver to be better. The package consists of Adaptive Cruise Control with Distance Alert Collision Warning with Automotive Brake, Driver Alert with Lane Departure Warning and the Blind Spot Information System. The Driver Support Line is available on the XC60, V70, S80 and XC70.

In 1927, the founders of Volvo, Assar Gabrielsson and Gustaf Larson said: "Cars are driven by people. Therefore, the safety guide for everything we do at Volvo. " Since then, Volvo Cars has introduced a large number of revolutionary technologies . It is the interaction between the various safety systems and functions that determines how safe a car is not the components separately. Volvo safety is the result of a complete, integrated solution. Volvo's Driver Support Line combines the latest preventive safety features that Volvo Cars currently has to offer.

Driver stand central.

At Volvo Cars is the development of security solutions based on three main aspects: the car, traffic and humans. The driver must be alert to and able to be in a stressful situation to a quick decision. But that is often easier said than done. Hence, the development at Volvo aims to help the driver. It focuses on technology that helps the driver in critical situations and to avoid collisions. Road traffic accidents should not be regarded as inevitable. With the right technology can be the driver needed help to prevent accidents.

• Driver Alert Control: unique technology that warns drivers from tired or inadvertently. This system will keep the driving of the car between the road markings in the eye and warns the driver when detected the erratic driving patterns or slightly uncontrolled. The driver is in this way already warned well before his/her eyelids begin to be heavy, but also in cases where the driver is distracted by other factors, such as during a telephone conversation.

• Lane Departure Warning (LDW): warns the driver with a subtle sound when the car cross without apparent reason - for example, without the direction lights is set - a road marking. This feature helps to prevent unilateral accidents, (vehicle get off the road) , but also arising frontal collisions from a secondary driver.

• Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC): an adaptive cruise control that uses radar sensor to maintain distance permanently. It automatically adjusting the vehicle speed and distance to that of a target vehicle. ACC uses a long range radar sensor to detect a target vehicle up to 200 meters in front and automatically adjusts the ACC vehicle speed and gap accordingly. ACC automatically decelerates or accelerates the vehicle according to the desired speed and distance settings established by the driver. As per standard cruise control the driver can override the system at any time.

• Distance Alert help driver to keep a proper distance to the car in front of his/her even if the ACC function is off. If hi/she get too close to the car in front of, the system alert driver with a red light in the lower part of the windscreen. Distance Alert will not brake the car like the ACC does.

  Distance Alert is activated via a button on the centre console and supports in speeds above 65 km/h. If Distance Alert is active and ACC is turned on, the Distance Alert will be automatically and temporarily disengaged.

• Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) : helps detect vehicles moving in the 'dead corner' of the exterior are. A warning to the exterior lights to the driver's attention to the vehicle in the blind spot.

• Auto Collision Warning with Brake (CWAB): when the driver and another vehicle approaching from the rear without responding, a flashing red lamp projected on the windshield and sounds an audible noise at the same time. This will allow the driver to react, leaving him/her in most cases out of a collision may occur. If the driver doesn't brake and the sensor system determines that a collision is imminent, the brakes are activated. Auto Brake is designed to lower the impact speed as much as possible and thereby reduce the risk of injury to the occupants of both vehicles.

The new Volvo XC60 is also equipped with City Safety - one by Volvo Cars in-house developed technology to prevent collisions at low speed in the city and / or the heavy traffic. When the driver back of his clash threatens to maintain and not timely respond, the car brakes itself. With City Safety and the recently introduced Collision Warning with Automotive Brake Volvo Cars has now systems that can slow down the car at any speed automatically. City Safety is not currently available on the V70, XC70 and S80. The additional cost of Driver Support Line is € 2,850.

BLIS - useful safety feature or just another way to spend your money?

Everyone knows that Volvo has a reputation as the safest car manufacturer. Many safety systems were presented by the company, and many of them have become standard in modern automotive.

Volvo is the first automaker to offer car buyers a high-tech solution to help avoid the risk of collisions caused by mirrors blind spots with its new safety system - BLIS (Blind Spot Information System). This system was first announced in 2001. Later it was introduced in the S80 sedan.

Blind Spot Information System by VOLVO

This system works as follows. BLIS uses an intelligent digital camera system incorporated into both door mirrors that constantly monitors the area alongside the car for cars or motorbikes, then alerts the driver via an orange light housed in the car's A-pillar by the door mirror. BLIS also works after dark, when it will react to the headlamps of any surrounding vehicles. Volvo believes the additional visual information BLIS relays to the driver before changing lanes or overtaking in busy urban environments or on multi-lane highways, will prove particularly useful.

Digital camera incorporated into door mirror.

The BLIS does not relieve the driver of his or her obligation and responsibility to do the usual visual checks before attempting any manoeuvring, but does afford frequent motorway users or city drivers an added level of protection against vehicles hovering in the periphery of the driver’s field of vision. While a dash mounted button can be used to temporarily switch the safety aid off, if required, BLIS is capable of making the distinction between mobile and immobile objects such as parked cars, road barriers, lampposts and other static objects, ensuring all alerts are limited to potentially hazardous moving obstacles.

Is the Blind Spot Information System something unique? Already not. The Mercedes-Benz company introduced a new safety system, which very soon will be offered as an option for models S-Class and CL-Class. According to the site Motorauthority , this system was called 'Blind Spot Assist'. According to the publication, Blind Spot Assist will oversee space at the rear and side car by six special sensors installed front and rear of the vehicle. According to Mercedes, a system may notice any transport, which is in the 'blind spot'. When radar detects activity in the zone of their actions, Blind Spot Assist will notify the driver visual and sound signals.

Blind Spot Assist by Mercedes-Benz

These data indicate that not only Volvo Cars safety specialists realize danger exist in the 'blind spots'. However, Volvo specialists have developed optical-electronic system that has a much more reliable than others.

Thus, I can confidently assert that BLIS is absolutely essential in today's busy traffic. I can only regret that this system is still optional, but not standard on all Volvo models.I hope that soon it is destined, as well as other developments in auto safety by Volvo, firmly enter into our daily lives.

In continuation you can watch a small video explaining the work of BLIS.



Read more:
Volvo tips for safe driving this summer.
VOLVO City Safety - the unique system of preventing low-speed collision
VOLVO safety features

Volvo tips for safe driving this summer.

Summer vacations season approach.Many families go on vacation by car with children. The trip can be a long and tedious. And children are much more difficult than adults to carry it.

Volvo Cars North American branch issued a compilation of tips for safe traveling by car with children.

"A distracted driver is far more likely to end up in or cause an accident," said Bruno DiGennaro, Volvo senior safety expert. "Oftentimes driver distractions come from young, backseat passengers. Talk with your kids about safe riding practices before hitting the roads this summer. You'll help keep everyone on your road trip out of harm's way."


In addition to putting small children and infants in car seats properly, there are other things parents can do to keep children safe in the car. Volvo offers these tips for riding safely:

• Limit the noisemakers. Parents are more and more turning to "road trip babysitters" such as Game Boys, portable DVD players and iPods to keep their kids happy and busy on long trips and when traffic gets bad. Practice moderation with this in your car. Set rules around wearing head phones or only having one thing playing at a time. The beeps and tones that these machines make can be block out the sounds of a beeping horn or even an oncoming emergency vehicle's siren.

• Pack low. See more. When the trunk or hatch gets full with bags and coolers, kids tend to squeeze stuff on to the back shelf of the car or pile their hatch area right up to the ceiling of the car. This can take away some key sight lines. At every stop, take an inventory of what has crept into these sight lines and take 30 seconds to repack your stuff before you get back on the road.

• Stick together. Sometimes on road trips, it can be as dangerous out of the car as it is in the car. Rest stops, restaurants and gas stations that your family has never been to before pose risks such as not knowing when and where to look for oncoming cars. Unfortunately, public places on the open road can also be hangouts for people preying on young kids. Never send a child under 18 to a restroom by him or herself. Form teams of at least two to head inside. As alert as you are on the road, be equally as alert when you make stops.
  

• Avoid rival sibling arguments. Let's face it, kids that have to sit in cars for a longer time than they are used to alongside their brother or sister may pick a fight with their sibling. These family moments can be dangerous to parents behind the wheel because their instincts tell them to break up the fight just as they would if they were in their living room. Stern warnings to riders about fighting in the car need to be made crystal clear before you put the car in drive. If things get really out of hand, pull over and deal with the situation on the side of the road or at a gas station.
  

• Keep the car seat safe for your youngest passengers. The best car seat is the one that fits your child properly, is easy to use and fits in your vehicle correctly. Install the car seat in the vehicle's backseat. Infants under 20 pounds or younger than one year old, should ride in a rear facing car seat. Check to see that the safety belt holds the seat tightly in place and make sure the harness is buckled snugly around your child. Some new cars, including Volvo's, now offer integrated car seats. Visit http://www.volvocars.com/us/experience/Pages/safety.aspx to learn more about child safety in cars. At http://www.nhtsa.gov you can find ease of use ratings for child seats on the market today.
  

• Never leave your child alone in car. Young children can overheat quickly in a warm car. Older children can loosen their seat belt, climb into the driver's seat, figure out how to undo the parking brake and potentially cause an accident.
  

• Keep small toys in check. Children may get upset and throw their small toys at you, potentially causing you to lose control of the car and cause an accident.
  

• Engage kids in ride safe ideas. Kids have great ideas and they are more likely to own them if they come up with them. Ask each kid rider to come up with their idea to keep their family safe on their road trip.
  

SOURCE  Volvo Cars of North America 

VOLVO safety features

So, I'm going to start the series on car safety. I believe that this topic is very important and interesting to discuss. We all know how many people die and maimed on roads each year.This number is just huge, it's much more than the number killed and wounded in military conflicts. How to make the road traffic safer for us and for our environment? How can we make a simple trip to work or to the shopping centre does not become a game of death?

VOLVO's engineers and designers work long and successfully to solve problems of car safety . They had developed a number of different devices and features that enhance the safety of vehicles.

• 1944 Safety cage
• 1944 Laminated windscreen
• 1954 Defroster vents for windscreen
• 1956 Windscreen washers
• 1957 Anchor points for 2–point safety belts front
• 1958 Anchor points for 2–point safety belts rear
• 1959 3–point front safety belts standard
• 1960 Padded instrument panel
• 1964 Disc brakes front
• 1964 First rearward–facing child safety seat prototype tested
• 1966 Rear windscreen defroster
• 1966 Disc brakes all around
• 1966 Dual split triangular braking system
• 1966 Crumple zones front and rear
• 1966 Safety door–locks
• 1967 Safety belt rear seats
• 1968 Head restraints front
• 1969 Inertia reel safety belts
• 1969 Heated rear windscreen
• 1971 Reminder safety belt
• 1972 3–point safety belts – rear
• 1972 Rearward–facing child safety seat
• 1972 Childproof locks on rear doors
• 1972 Warning lights (hazard)
• 1973 Side collision protection
• 1973 Collapsible steering wheel
• 1974 Energy absorbing bumpers
• 1974 Safe location of fuel tank
• 1974 Multistage impact absorbing steering column
• 1974 Bulb integrity sensor
• 1974 Headlight wiper/washer
• 1975 Day running lamps
• 1975 Braking system with stepped bore master cylinder
• 1978 Child safety booster cushion
• 1982 "Anti–submarining" protection
• 1982 Fog lamps front
• 1982 Fog lamps rear
• 1982 Warning lights in opened door
• 1982 Wide angle rear view mirror
• 1984 ABS anti–locking brakes
• 1985 ETC – Electronic Traction Control
• 1986 Brake lights in rear window
• 1986 Three–point safety belt centre rear seat
• 1987 Mechanical safety belt pre–tensioner
• 1987 Airbag – driver
• 1990 Integrated child safety cushion in centre rear seat
• 1991 SIPS – Side Impact Protection System
• 1991 Automatic height adjusting safety belt
• 1992 Reinforced rear seats in estate models
• 1992 Passenger airbag front
• 1993 Three–point inertia–reel safety belts – all rear positions
• 1994 SIPS–bag, side airbag
• 1995 DSA – Dynamic Stability Assistance
• 1995 Integrated child safety cushion outer rear seats
• 1997 ROPS – Roll Over Protection System
• 1998 WHIPS – Whiplash Protection System
• 1998 IC – Inflatable Curtain
• 1998 STC – Stability and Traction Control
• 1998 DSTC – Dynamic Stability and Traction Control
• 1998 EBD – Electronic Brake Distribution
• 2000 ISOFIX anchorages with rearward–facing child safety seat
• 2000 Dual Stage Airbag
• 2001 SCC – Volvo Safety Concept Car
• 2002 RSC – Roll Stability Control
• 2002 ROPS – Roll Over Protection System
• 2002 New integrated child seat 2nd row
• 2002 Lower Cross Member
• 2002 New compatible front design
• 2002 Safe 3rd row seats
• 2002 New Front Structure
• 2003 New Front Structure called Volvo Intelligent Vehicle Architecture (VIVA)
• 2003 Rear seat belt reminders
• 2003 IDIS – Intelligent Driver Information System
• 2004 BLIS – Blind Spot Information System
• 2004 Water repellent glass WRG
• 2005 Introduction of DMIC (Door Mounted Inflatable Curtain)
• 2006 PCC - Personal Car Communicator
• 2006 CWBS - Collision Warning with Brake Support
• 2006 ABL - Active Bixenon Lights
• 2007 ACC - Adaptive Cruise Control
• 2007 PPB - Power Park Brake
• 2007 HDC - Hill Descent Control
• 2007 EBL - Emergency Brake Light
• 2007 DAC - Driver Alert Control
• 2007 LDW - Lane Departure Warning System

To be continued.