External airbag, the next step in auto safety
Volvo, which has been a world leader in automotive safety and technological advancement, and the first company to offer seat belts in its vehicles, is about to offer another first: an exterior airbag to protect pedestrians struck by a car.
The bag resides under the hood of the vehicle near the fire wall and expands in front of the windshield to prevent a pedestrian from impacting the windshield. The system, known as Pedestrian Detection and the Pedestrian Airbag Technology, detects, auto brakes, and deploys an external airbag to reduce the severity of injury. It will be offered in the companys new V40 model, along with a number of new safety features, including Park Assist Pilot, Lane Keeping Aid, Enhanced Blind Spot Information, Cross Traffic Alert, Road Sign Information, Active High Beam, Adaptive Cruise Control and the Distance Alert, Collision Warning and Auto Brake City Safety.
Thomas Broberg, senior safety advisor Volvo Car Corporation, said the safety systems are intelligent and work together to make driving more pleasant. Their main task is to assist the driver, thereby making the driving experience more comfortable and less complicated.
Download Bulletin PDF