Volvo Promises "Deathproof" Cars By 2020
Every year in Canada thousands of people die in car accidents. In the U.S., it is tens of thousands of people. Many of these accidents were preventable and caused by human error. The number one cause of car accidents is distracted driving, and with all the on-the-go technology today it is no surprise. Other top reasons include drunk driving, careless driving, speeding, running red lights, tailgating, driving the wrong direction or taking wrong turns, and driving under the influence of drugs.
Sometimes though, car accidents are the result of factors not entirely the driver’s fault. Driving in bad weather conditions and driving at night requires more vigilance, and it may be best to avoid driving if possible. Sometimes construction sites and uneven roads create situations that encourage accidents, so driving extra carefully is essential. While at other times a tire blows out, or there was some defect in the design of the motor vehicle.
In efforts to prevent car accidents and save lives, Swedish auto company Volvo plans to include all the high-tech safety features necessary to prevent car accidents causing serious injury and death. Volvo claims that by 2020, no one will ever die or be maimed while driving its vehicles. The CEO of Volvo Cars North America, Lex Kerssemakers, informed CNN that their engineers are confident they can achieve this.
Various automakers have begun incorporating collision avoidance technology such as adaptive cruise controls that automatically slows cars down based on the distance of the car ahead, blind-spot detectors that carefully monitor oncoming cars, camera systems that alert drivers who have accidentally crossed into another lane, and vibrating steering wheels that attempt to wake up sleeping drivers when their body language exhibits signs of dozing off. Luckily, since its inception, collision-avoidance technology has become more affordable for the average car owner.
Volvo claims it will incorporate all the essential collision avoidance technology necessary for safe driving and it will also develop systems that reduce the severity of accidents when they are unavoidable. For example, with a rear impact mitigation system, if a car is approaching too fast from behind, the Volvo vehicle will automatically tighten up its seat belt and activate the brakes.
Volvo is also working on developing fully autonomous vehicles. Erik Coelingh, a Safety Engineer with Volvo, believes that computerized, fully automated driving is the real solution for preventing accidents as all accident scenarios possible are well thought out and planned and are programmed for in advance.
It goes without saying that Volvo’s future self-driving cars will allow people to sit back and relax while their self-driving vehicle efficiently takes them to their destination. Volvo car owners will be able to read, eat and watch movies on Netflix or TV. At the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Volvo announced it is working with Ericsson to make it happen. So, in addition to saving lives, Volvo plans to free up time for their drivers to spend more enjoyably and productively during the journey to their destination.