Fender Bender Avoidance by Volvo

By Gunnar Heinrich |IMG Volvo via YouTube

“CITY SAFETY” as Volvo is calling its low-speed crash prevention system, was a long time in coming. In fact, the feature would’ve come in handy on another Volvo I drove 11 years ago.

Yours was stuck in I-95 traffic in a black over cream Volvo 850GLT sportswagon (loved that car – underpowered – but the perfect blend of  handsome design, spunky sport, comfort, and utility).

It was night.  Rain pelted my windshield. Cars were moving at a stop ‘n go pace of probably 5 mph. My mind wandered. My glazed gaze turned to look out the driverside win-BAM!

I hit the Jeep in front of me who decided to stay parked instead of rolling forward with the cars in front on him. Yeah, it was still my fault – I hadn’t focused on what was in front of me and as a result our handsome Swede needed a new grille.

Truth is, we’ve all been there at one point or another. And this where this City Safety feature shows promise. Operating between 2-20 mph, the system uses lasers directed out the top of the XC60′s windshield (above the rainsensor) to search for other cars.

The system promises to either lessen the impact or avoid it completely by applying full braking pressure when the system detects that an imminent collision with a large object directly ahead. When the system is activated, the brake lights are also (wisely) engaged.

Other car manufacturers – namely Mercedes-Benz and BMW – also feature various versions of the same accident avoidance system on various models. But Volvo’s making a point of actively marketing it’s own version.

This takes us one step closer to those self-operating pods us gear heads fear – but it also keeps us one step away from calling the insurance man.