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Volvo’s Goal – Accident Proof Cars by 2020

Automaker Volvo has set an ambitious target for the year 2020, one which makes California personal injury lawyers very encouraged, although we have some doubts about how successful Volvo will be in reaching this target. The automaker has announced in a recent news release that its aim for the year 2020 would be that “no one should be killed or seriously injured in a Volvo.”

The announcement has already created excitement among industry watchers, and auto safety advocates. It also coincides with the release next year of Volvo’s new S-60. The car features a high tech new design, configured to prevent accidents, including sophisticated accident warning systems, complete with auto brake and pedestrian detection devices. According to the automaker, it uses a combination of a computer, radar and a camera installed next to the inside rearview mirror.  The camera and the radar work together to monitor the front of the car.  While the radar detects objects and measures the amount of distance to the object, the camera determines what kind of objects these are. In case an accident seems imminent, the driver will get a flashing warning light on the display. If the visual warning does not work, he will also receive an audio warning.  If the driver still doesn’t react, the brakes are automatically applied.

The Volvo X-C60 has also a collision warning system, but in that car, the braking power is just about 50 percent. According to Volvo, it has been able to use sophisticated sensor technology to release full braking power.

Volvo already enjoys a solid reputation for safety and according to its officials, a reality where no one is killed or seriously injured in a Volvo, is just the next stage in that quest for perfection. The automaker has already introduced a number of technologies that can detect possible dangers, and encourage the driver to deal with these dangers, first in the form of a warning, and if needed, through automatic braking.  In Sweden, Volvo is working closely with the Swedish Road Administration to coordinate  its efforts and the agency’s infrastructure initiatives, in order to obtain the safest results. The Swedish Road Administration also had lofty goals for the security of the people using its infrastructure.

So is Volvo’s goal for 2020 realistic? The New York Times doesn’t seem to think so. There is always the risk that larger vehicles like trucks, could crash into a Volvo, placing the occupants in the Volvo at a risk of being injured or killed. An accident with a massive tractor trailer that can weigh up to 80,000 pounds can’t be minimized, even with airbags and other systems. In such collisions, catastrophic injuries and fatalities often result.

However, auto safety advocates like Clarence Ditlow believe that it’s necessary to set high goals in order to improve auto safety features. As California auto accident lawyers, we have to agree. It’s important to set high standards for future models of cars, so you can make the kind of improvements that will be necessary to reach those high goals. Volvo, it seems, is on the right path towards that goal.

The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of motor vehicle accidents. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com. If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us.

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