Modern Safety Tech Reduces Collisions by 42%

VolvoVolvoSweden, 1927 > present49 models
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and the European Field Operational Test on Active Safety Systems that brought together 27 other European companies have confirmed that modern safety systems like automatic braking and blind spot monitoring reduce collisions by 42%. The study was completed by 263 test subjects driving Volvo V70Volvo V70 Gen.3Sweden, 2007 > present177 versions
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and XC70Volvo XC70 Gen.3Sweden, 2007 > present99 versions
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models for 18 months. The car were fitted with cameras that monitored them constantly. During the test, the test subjects covered 3 million kilometers, and the cameras collected 30 terrabytes of data. 

The test covered five areas: adaptive cruise control, collision warning, blind spot information system, lane departure warning and driver alert control. The study found that adaptive cruise control and collision warning were the systems with the greatest positive effects on driver safety. These two alone decreased collisions by 43%. Also drivers like the systems. Of those tested, 80% felt that driving was more comfortable and convenient with adaptive cruise control, and 70% felt that collision warning made them feel safer when driving. 

The study found no statistically significant increase in safety from blind spot warning, lane departure warning and driver alert control. The problem is that collisions caused by the types of incidents these technologies prevent occur much more rarely. 

"The analyses show that our world-leading focus on new safety and support technologies delivers results in everyday traffic conditions. Since the start of EuroFOT, we have presented a number of new systems and in addition refined already existing technologies. One example is Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake, which alerts the driver and automatically brakes the car if there is a pedestrian in the road," said Volvo Vice President for R&D Peter Mertens. 

Volvo says that it is going to use the data that study gathered to develop safer and more driver-friendly systems.