Collision warning and Automatic braking system to be implemented by Volvo

"Our aim for 2020 is that no one should be killed or injured in a Volvo car," says Thomas Broberg, a senior safety specialist at the company.

When Volvo launched its new XC60 car in November, it included as standard an automatic braking system it claims could prevent half of all low-speed rear-end collisions.



Called City Safety, the system uses a laser sensor to check the distance between the car and vehicles up to 10 metres ahead. Measuring the speeds of both cars 50 times per second, it calculates the braking force required to avoid a crash. If the driver does not react when the vehicle in front slows, the system applies the brakes.

The Volvo S60, which launches next year, is planned to be the first car to be fitted with full automatic braking to avoid collisions with pedestrians. The system uses a combined camera and radar sensor to monitor any obstacle in front of the car. The radar measures how far away it is, while images from the camera are analysed by image-recognition software to determine what the object is.

Drivers get an audible and visual warning of a potential collision, and if they do not respond the system automatically applies the brakes.

Volvo says its system could totally prevent collisions with pedestrians in cars travelling at 19 kilometres per hour or less, and reduce the impact of collisions above that speed by 75 per cent. Unfortunately it does not work as well in darkness and in poor weather, when accidents are particularly likely.