Safety Group: Crash-Avoidance System Really Works

While modern passenger vehicles are generally better than ever at protecting occupants in collisions, preventing crashes is still the best way by far to avoid injuries.

New active crash avoidance technology seeks to keep many traffic accidents from happening, and according to the Highway Loss Data Institute, it seems to be working.

A new study by the data-gathering affiliate of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety finds that one forward collision avoidance system used by Volvo is cutting about a quarter of the common low-speed crashes that typically happen in slow moving, stop-and-go commuter traffic.

The study of insurance claims data found Volvo XC60 mid-size crossovers with a standard collision-avoidance system called City Safety are far less likely to be involved in low-speed crashes than similar vehicles without the feature. Property-damage claims, which pertain to damage to a vehicle that an at-fault driver hits, were filed 27 percent less often for the XC60 than other mid-size luxury SUVs, the Highway Loss Data Institute says.

City Safety automatically brakes to avoid a “rear-ending” other vehicles in certain low-speed conditions. It uses an infrared laser sensor in the windshield to monitor the area in front of the vehicle hen traveling at speeds of roughly 2 mph to 19 mph.

It detects and reacts to other vehicles within 18 feet of the XC60′s front bumper during the day and at night. If the speed difference between vehicles is less than 9 mph, the system City Safety helps drivers avoid some crashes altogether. If the difference is between 9 mph and 19 mph, the feature may not prevent the collision but will lessen the impact. City Safety is not designed to work at speeds faster than 19 mph.

Volvo’s system is the first mass-market crash-avoidance system of its kind and has been standard on XC60s since the 2010 model year. It also is standard on 2011 and 2012 S60 sedans and 2012 S80 sedans and XC70 wagons.

“This is our first real-world look at an advanced crash avoidance technology, and the findings are encouraging,” says Adrian Lund, president of HLDI. “City Safety is helping XC60 drivers avoid the kinds of front-to-rear, low-speed crashes that frequently happen on congested roads.”

wsj.com