Holistic Driving
An Auto Manufacturers Commitment to Staying Alive
By: Cathy Droz
Each year, over 1.2 million people worldwide, including about 44,000 Americans, die on the roadways. While most manufacturers are looking for ways to save gas, one manufacturer, Volvo is looking to make their already safe cars even safer.
From the country that has given us meatballs, ABBA and Ikea, Volvo has made a very daring commitment. They vow that in the year 2020 no one will be killed or injured as a result of being involved in an accident while driving a Volvo.
Volvo, the car company that invented the seat belt, a safe location for fuel tanks, air bags everywhere, as well as 72 other ground-breaking safety innovations since 1927, believes that you should not risk life and limb transporting yourself to work or to school. In fact, the innovations keep on coming.
One of their most recent ideas is designing crash dummies that simulate a pregnant woman in her last trimester. They are studying and perfecting the exact positioning of seat belts in the event a pregnant woman is in a crash in a Volvo, thereby caring for both the adult driver and unborn child.
Volvo is also working on new safety ideas that will go a long way to preventing some collisions between their vehicles and other brands, as well as ways to keep pedestrians and cyclists from falling victim to vehicle collisions. Their commitment to safety and innovations make you want to run out and buy one now, despite any gas mileage considerations or what the Joneses may own.
At the Volvo proving grounds in Wittman, Arizona I was able to experience first hand exactly what safety techniques are already provided on their new models.
I rode in a car with a Volvo engineer and shown the “City Safety” technology that will be launched as standard equipment on the 2009 Volvo XC60. City Safety technology includes a low-speed collision mitigation system designed to avoid, or at least ease a collision between a Volvo and the vehicle just ahead. We drove about l5 miles per hour toward a facsimile of the rear end of a car (actually it was an air filled canvas covered balloon). As we approached, lights and sound warned of an impending collision. We were told not to brake despite the natural inclination to do so. The car applied its own brakes and the impact, if it even occurred, would have resulted in only a scratch or dent.
The other technology I experienced was while driving outside the proving grounds in the real world at highway speeds and in local street traffic. I was told to swerve back and forth over the lines in the road as if suffering from sleep deprivation or under the influence of alcohol or drugs. There is a device designed to alert the driver with a “dinging” noise and the appearance of an icon depicting a coffee cup on the dash with a message suggesting you pull over and take a break.
Last, but not least, in order to help Volvo achieve their 2020 goal is the Alcoguard, a portable breathalyzer device that reads the driver’s blood alcohol level and which can prevent the car from starting.
Many of these innovations are already available on Volvo vehicles. Though most of them will be standard the breathalyzer will be an optional item. However, I envision the breathalyzer becoming a mandated option instituted in business where fleets of drivers are employed, as well as that mandate being made for personal cars.
You must keep in mind that despite the amazing safety features included in Volvo vehicles it doesn’t mean you can drive recklessly or with little care. Volvo and their innovative team of engineers continuously strive to address safety issues that occur before, during and after collisions. Hats off to Volvo with their modern and holistic approach to car manufacturing. It may not be sexy but either is an accident.
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Boomer and X - Two generations of women offer car-care advice to readers each month. This Mother Daughter team of Cathy and Melanie Droz are automotive journalists and manufacturers “test drivers.” Boomer shares years of knowledge and experience while our generation “X” contributes and shares a trendier, more-technically hip solution to automotive questions.
Send your questions to Boomerand X@GPPPS.com
