A World-first Safety Technology From Volvo

Volvo has been at the forefront of developing efficientsame situation. Those sensors deliver the information
technologies which will offer safety to their customers.to the control unit, where the code will then be
Considering the results of recent studies where itcalculated as to know whether the driver is at risk of
results showed that as much as 90 per cent of allgetting out of control while driving.
traffic accidents are caused by driver distraction,If the computer measures the risk as high, an audible
Volvo is once again upgrading safety in its vehicles bysignal will alert the driver. For minor distractions, a text
helping a driver avoid or even just reduce the severitymessage and coffee cup symbol will appear in the
of accidents caused by distraction or fatigue throughcar's information display, imposing that the driver needs
the development of a world-first technology.to take a break. Consistency of driving is accessed
Earlier this September, Volvo revealed its Driver Alertthrough bars displayed, where five bars in the starting
Control (DAC) together with a Lane Departureand fewer if driving is held less consistent.
Warning (LDW) system at the Frankfurt Motor Show.Daniel Levin, project manager for Driver Alert Control
It is what Volvo claims as the world-first technology toat Volvo Cars, said, "It is, of course, always the driver's
alert tired or distracted drivers. By the end of this year,responsibility to take a break when necessary, but
the two systems will be made available as an optionalsometimes you might not realize that you're not alert
feature priced at £500 on the all-new Volvo V70.enough to drive. In such situations, Driver Alert Control
According to a spokesperson at the Volvo Carscan help the driver make the right decision before the
Safety Center, "Real life safety is the key to outconcentration level becomes too low." He implies that
safety philosophy. When it comes to preventativethe system will just be of help and the driver is still held
safety, we have the same approach as when wethe most responsible to get himself aware of anything
develop protective systems. In other words ourthat might affect his driving.
research and technical developments focus on areasWith regards to changing lanes, Volvo Cars'
where new technology can create significant results inresearchers presented the Lane Departure Warning
real-life-traffic."(LDW) system. After studies have been made, they
The Driver Alert Control (DAC), a world first innovation,got an estimate of 30 percent to 40 percent of the
is the product of Volvo's series of extensive studiesaccidents, of which are caused by single car road
on how drivers operate behind the wheel. Unlike otherdepartures and head-on collisions, being prevented by
technologies featured before, DAC wouldn't bethe system.
monitoring human behavior, which varies from oneLike the DAC, the Lane Departure Warning comes
individual to another. Instead, the system will look overwith a camera between the windscreen and the rear
the progress of the car on the road. Such drivingview mirror. And, it also monitors the car's position
behavior is said to be much reliable since it considersbetween the road markings. A button on the center
assessing the impact of fatigue or distraction to theconsole with get this system activated, releasing a
car's movements, as well as if the car is being driven ingentle warning sound whenever the car unreasonably
a controlled and consistent manner. It would even workcrosses one of the road markings.
as much as covering the guard if the driver is gettingAs with the car's speed, both the DAC and the LDW
to much attached to a mobile phone conversation orwill be activated as it reaches 40 mph and stays
probably getting distracted by companion during driving.active as it exceeds 37 mph.
The composition of the Driver Alert Control includes aHowever, like any other technologies, exceptions exist.
camera between the windscreen and the interior rearBoth systems will be unavailable during extreme
view mirror. Several sensors and a control unit haveweather conditions and other situations that tend to
also been provided. The camera is held to measuremake the markings unclear. Probably, this technology
the distance between the car and the road lanewill be upgraded, as Volvo upgrades its Volvo radiator
markings. The sensors, on the other hand, arehoses, in time.
responsible in registering the car's movements in the