Volvo technology wins UK award

Volvo's new City Safety system, designed to help drivers avoid or reduce the severity of low-speed, urban collisions, has won in the Technology category of the Fleet World honours awards in London today.

City Safety will be introduced as a standard feature in the new Volvo XC60, arriving in UK showrooms in October.

The system uses laser sensor technology to detect vehicles up to ten metres in front of the car, reacting to those that are either at a standstill or moving slowly in the same direction as the owner's vehicle.

If the gap continues to close and the driver remains oblivious and/or inactive, the system automatically applies the brakes.

City Safety has a great deal of potential for reducing both personal injuries and car bodywork damage. Insurance costs may also be cut if the system works as intended.

Volvi is currently involved in discussions with insurance companies regarding such lower premiums.

Chairman of judges, George Emmerson, commented on the award: "Volvo's commitment to researching and developing groundbreaking technologies has led to a number of safety milestones.

"City Safety is among the cleverest so far, predicting when low-speed accidents will happen and preventing them from occurring. City Safety will offer fleets financial, operational and social benefits that deserve recognition."

John Wallace, Volvo Car UK's corporate sales and leasing manager, had this to say: "With surveys indicating that 75 per cent of all reported collisions take place at speeds of under 18 mph, and in 50 per cent of these cases the driver has not braked at all before the collision, it's easy to see the potential City Safety has in reducing incidents of this kind.

"As well as these safety benefits it also offers significant operational improvements, which is good news for businesses, and I am delighted that the judges have recognised this."