It seems like Swedish automaker Volvo has so greatly perfected the safety of their cars' passengers that the only way the company can continue to raise the safety standards bar is by designing new ways to protect people not in the car as well.
The company literally rolled out another world-first in automotive safety this week at the 83rd Geneva International Motor Show when Doug Speck, vice president of marketing, sales and customer service rode on stage on a bicycle to introduce the public to new Volvo technology that detects and automatically breaks for cyclists that swerve out in front of the car.
The bicycle detection technology is an enhancement of the pedestrian detection and auto breaking features already available in some Volvos.
"As the leader in automotive safety, we have been first in the industry with all detection and auto brake technologies, from the first-generation brake support in 2006 to pedestrian detection with full auto brake in 2010," said Speck in a press statement from Volvo.
According to the statement, about half of all all cyclists killed in Europe collided with a car. By using a system of cameras, radar and sensors, the car can distinguish a person riding a bicycle near the car from other objects and will automatically break to avoid hitting a cyclist if the driver does not respond quickly enough. The radar is integrated into the car's grille and the camera fits on the windscreen-facing side of the car's interior rear-view mirror.
Volvo's cyclist detection system is the latest in a series of moves the company has made to make the people around their cars as safe as the people riding inside.
Last month Volvo released a version of the V40 hatchback with pedestrian airbags which deploy at low speed impacts when the car's detection system registers an impact with a pedestrian.
"Our solutions for avoiding collisions with unprotected road users are unique in the industry," Speck said. "By covering more and more objects and situations, we reinforce our world-leading position within automotive safety. We keep moving towards our long-term vision to design cars that do not crash."
A video of the cyclist detection system can be seen at the Volvo website.
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