Safety system

Carmaker Volvo is well known for the safety features it fits to its vehicles. However, one of the latest failed spectacularly at a recent demonstration in front of the motoring press. The demonstration was supposed to show how the automatic braking system ensures that the new Volvo models will be able to reduce the risk of accidents. The car was driven at the rear of a truck and was supposed to come to an emergency stop but instead ploughed straight into the vehicle, resulting in wry smirks amongst the asse
February 22, 2012 Read time: 1 min
Carmaker Volvo is well known for the safety features it fits to its vehicles. However, one of the latest failed spectacularly at a recent demonstration in front of the motoring press. The demonstration was supposed to show how the automatic braking system ensures that the new Volvo models will be able to reduce the risk of accidents. The car was driven at the rear of a truck and was supposed to come to an emergency stop but instead ploughed straight into the vehicle, resulting in wry smirks amongst the assembled press. The fault was blamed on a flat battery that foiled the vehicle's sophisticated electronics. The car, Volvo's new S60 model, is now available. Whether or not new owners will find the automatic braking system more reliable, remains to be seen.

Related Content

  • Emissions legislation driving machinery design
    June 13, 2012
    Legislative and economic factors are impacting upon the earthmoving equipment market - Mike Woof reports No-one who has any connection with the construction equipment sector can have failed to notice that increasingly tough emissions legislation has changed the shape of machines over the last 10 years or so. A series of targets have been set and met with regard to the exhaust emissions permitted from off-highway machines used in North America and Europe. The latest round of requirements has seen the intr
    Read More
  • Zipping up road lanes – with Barrier Systems
    September 10, 2018
    QMB has a Lindsay Road Zipper on duty near Montreal. World Highways deputy editor David Arminas climbed aboard As vice president of Canadian barrier specialist QMB, based in Laval, Quebec, Marc-Andre Seguin is sanguine about the future for moveable barriers. On the one hand, it looks good. The oft-stated advantage of moveable barriers is that the systems are cheaper to install than adding a lane or two to a highway or bridge. Directional changes to lanes can boost volume on a road without disrupting tra
    Read More
  • Hamm | HX series – The new flagship
    February 1, 2025
    Pivot-steered tandem rollers: Sustainable, intelligent and digitally supported
    Read More
  • Volvo unveils redesigned L350H wheel loader
    March 8, 2017
    Volvo Construction Equipment (CE) literally took the wraps off its redesigned L350H wheel loader at CONEXPO-CON/AGG. With Volvo president and CEO Martin Lundstedt and Volvo CE president Martin Weissberg in attendance - and in front of a large crowd of visitors at its stand - the company pulled the curtains away from the upgraded machine.
    Read More

Highlighted Content