Safety has always been a Volvo hallmark. Using a dynamic and holistic approach, the ultimate goal is to prevent accidents before they occur. 

 

It’s a pretty simple concept—fewer accidents lead to fewer injuries. The priority at Volvo is to keep people safe by preventing accidents in the first place.

 

Volvo uses a comprehensive crash test research system referred to as the “circle of life.” Real-life accidents are studied by Volvo’s own accident research team. Since 1970, more than 40,000 accidents involving Volvos have been thoroughly examined.

The results of these studies are incorporated into the production of vehicles, which are then tested at the state-of-the-art Volvo Safety Center where real-life accidents and situations are reconstructed and simulated. Testing leads to product developments that meet and exceed safety requirements established by governments. 

 

Using a holistic approach, Volvo studies how to best protect people in real-life situations and builds proactive safety systems to prevent accidents from occurring. Recent cutting-edge safety technologies developed by Volvo include City Safety, a technology that monitors vehicles ahead through the use of a laser sensor installed in the windshield. When a Volvo equipped with City Safety is traveling at speeds between two and 19 mph, the brakes are automatically applied if the driver fails to react when a vehicle in front abruptly stops or slows down. City Safety is now a standard feature on all XC60 models and the 2012 S60, S80 and XC70 models.

Other Volvo safety innovations include Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake, Emergency Brake Assist, Dynamic Stability Traction and Electronic Brake Distribution.

 

The results speak for themselves. Five Volvo models—the S60, S80, XC60, XC90 and C30––were all named 2012 Top Safety Picks by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). This number of selections is the most for any luxury car brand.

 

Volvo is committed to keeping its vehicles as safe as they can be. The best way to combat accidents is to prevent them in the first place and Volvo is taking the lead to make the roads safer for everyone. The more accidents prevented, the more lives saved.

 

Volvos are some of the safest cars on the road today. Nothing beats the peace of mind that comes from driving one.