Volvo Cars Unveils Groundbreaking Technology To Alert Drivers Of Accidents Ahead

Imagine driving down a secluded country road, the path ahead not fully visible. Then, your Volvo car suddenly informs you of an accident ahead, allowing you to slow down proactively before encountering the scene. This is the reality for Volvo drivers with the introduction of the Accident Ahead Alert feature, a testament to Volvo's ongoing commitment to road safety.

The feature is designed to alert drivers about traffic accidents up to several hundred metres ahead, utilizing real-time data from a traffic management centre. Initially available in compatible Volvo cars starting in Denmark, this innovation marks a significant step forward in connected safety technology.

“Our groundbreaking connected safety technology, including the Accident Ahead Alert, aims to help Volvo drivers avoid unexpected incidents and contribute to safer roads for everyone,” stated Åsa Haglund, Head of the Volvo Cars Safety Centre. Volvo's collaboration with the Danish Road Directorate and other partners in the Data for Road Safety ecosystem has been instrumental in rolling out this feature.

Since 2016, Volvo Cars has led the industry with its connected safety technology, allowing cars to share information about hazardous road conditions. Now, the addition of accident alerts expands this communication, offering vital information to drivers at any time of day.

The future looks promising, with plans to integrate traffic data from additional sources within the European Data for Road Safety ecosystem, including traffic management centres from other countries and vehicles from different manufacturers. Volvo Cars encourages more road authorities to share anonymous traffic accident data and invites other car manufacturers to implement similar technologies.

“We're pleased to be the first car manufacturer to use the Danish Traffic Management Centre's new real-time traffic event data feed. Quick alerts about accidents ahead can significantly reduce the risk of follow-up collisions and enhance safety for everyone on the road,” commented Stine Bendsen, Head of the Danish Traffic Management Centre at the Danish Road Directorate.

Volvo car owners can contribute to enhancing road safety by opting for data sharing through the 'connected safety’ option in their car's centre display. This activation allows the vehicle to alert drivers about accidents ahead, using the dashboard’s hazard light alert and, if available, the head-up display. Privacy is paramount, with all shared data being anonymised.

Currently, the Accident Ahead Alert feature is available in Denmark for all 90, 60, and 40 series Volvo car models from the 2016 model year onwards. There are plans to extend this feature to the same car models in more markets soon, further demonstrating Volvo’s dedication to safety and innovation.