Volvo trucks, powered with intelligent safety systems, deliver highest degree of safety for truck drivers and other vulnerable road users.

Globally, about 1.2 million people die in road accidents every year. Research shows that human error is involved in about 90 per cent of all traffic accidents and driver fatigue or inattention is by far the most common cause of single-vehicle accidents.

About 35 per cent of people suffering serious injuries or fatalities in accidents involving heavy trucks are vulnerable road users. With the increasing pace of urbanisation and with more people and vehicles on the roads, there is a risk that injuries will increase unless serious action is taken.

According to Carl Johan Almqvist, Traffic & Product Safety Director at Volvo Trucks, “In order to cut accident rates it is necessary to continue the development of a number of technical solutions that can help the truck driver avoid potentially hazardous situations. Moreover, all road users need to become more aware of the risks that exist in the traffic environment and how we can best reduce them.”

The 2017 Volvo Trucks Safety Report says that there is a greater need to focus on reducing risks for vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists, moped riders and motorcyclists. In order to reduce the risk of accidents and to create the preconditions for safe transportation, Volvo Trucks is working actively in the areas of safety throughout its organisation as well as with other stakeholders.

Giving the driver a clear view of the truck’s immediate vicinity is crucial to accident prevention. Volvo has a solution whereby the driver can see what is happening in the front corner of the passenger side with the help of a camera.

Seat belt for truck drivers!

In order to reduce the risk of accidents with other vehicles, Volvo’s trucks are equipped with various active safety systems. But if an accident does occur, it is a tried and trusted part of the safety equipment that is the most important life-saver – the seat belt.

“The report reveals that far too many truck drivers don´t use their seat belts even though we know that half of the unbelted truck drivers who have died in road accidents would have survived, had they been wearing their seat belts,” warns Carl Johan Almqvist.

Automatic Emergency Brake
Volvo Trucks has developed a system that goes well beyond both current and future legal requirements of automatic emergency brake, which was introduced in 2012, focuses primarily on alerting the driver to the risk of a collision. In many cases this is enough for the driver to quickly assess the situation and avoid an accident, explains Carl Johan Almqvist.

The emergency brake is only used if it is absolutely necessary, and it is deployed extremely quickly. The braking speed – or retardation to use the correct technical term – is about 7 metre per second, which is on par with what many passenger cars can manage. In practice this means that the truck’s speed can be cut from 80 to 0 km/hr in about 40 metres.

The system monitors the vehicles in front with the help of camera and radar technology and functions irrespective of whether it is sunshine, mist, fog or darkness. If there is a risk of collision, the driver is alerted via gradually escalating light and acoustic signals. If the system does not detect a response from the driver, the truck automatically starts braking gently. If the driver still does not respond, the emergency brake is deployed until the vehicle comes to a complete standstill. After a further five seconds without any movement of the steering wheel or other reaction, the handbrake is automatically engaged, a safety measure to prevent the truck from rolling if the driver is in shock or is unconscious.

When the emergency brake is deployed, the brake lights start flashing to warn vehicles to the rear, and when the truck’s speed drops to 5 km/hr the flashing emergency warning lights are also activated.

Volvo’s system also functions on curvy roads and can differentiate between roadside guard rails and genuine obstacles such as vehicles including motorbikes. In order to gain the full benefit of the system, it is essential to ensure that all functions, such as the ABS brakes, are activated on both truck and trailer.

Bringing truck safety to India
In case of round-the-clock operations in tough environments like quarry, mines and construction business, safety should come first. In India, Volvo Trucks pioneered driver training in the commercial vehicle industry 19 years ago. “Our driver training programs give special importance to safety, creating awareness about its importance to the environment they operate in and the community they serve,” asserts Dinakar B, Senior Vice President – Sales Marketing & Aftermarket, Volvo Trucks India.

He further claims, “Volvo truck is synonymous with safety. In fact, we have the safest cab – and it’s a Volvo standard. Tough collision tests, the use of energy-absorbing materials and three-point seatbelts as standard are just a few examples of our efforts to minimise the risk of injury in the event of an accident. To help prevent accidents, the driver’s environment is designed for the best possible driveability and visibility. Other initiatives to promote safer driving include driver training, advanced braking systems and driver support systems.”

Volvo Trucks’ intelligent safety systems
• Adaptive Cruise Control: Active cruise control that helps the driver maintain a set time gap to the vehicle in front.
• Collision Warning with Emergency Brake: Alerts the driver if there is a risk of collision with a vehicle in front, activating the brakes if necessary.
• Driver Alert Support: Notifies the driver to take a break if it detects any sign of driver inattentiveness or drowsiness.
• Mirrors and side-view windows: Cameras for corner view, rear view and stitched combined view.
• System detecting pedestrians and cyclists.
• Vehicle to vehicle communication system.
• Automation for increased safety – supporting the driver: Platooning, automated highway driving and reversing
• Traffic-safety training programme: Road safety awareness programmes like ‘Stop Look Wave’ and ‘See and Be Seen’.
• Simulator for driver experience in partnership with VTI/HejdlösaBilder.