Volvo's Safety System Detects Pedestrians, Cyclists

Volvo is known for its forward-thinking safety features, and the automaker seems determined to keep up its reputation with its Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection system. While Pedestrian Detection has been in Volvo's lineup since 2010, Cyclist Detection is new. The all-new Volvo V60 wagon will be among the cars in the Swedish automaker's lineup to offer the system.

I was able to check out the V60 wagon at the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show. This good-looking wagon's family appeal has increased with the addition of this new safety system.

The Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection system is an extension of Volvo's City Safety, which helps prevent collisions by monitoring the speed and distance between your car and the car in front of you and automatically braking to prevent a collision.

With the new system, Volvo has expanded the technology, enabling the sensors to register pedestrians and cyclists. This is huge news, parents. How many times have we sweated it in school's pickup lane when a child darts out right in front of your car? What about the kids on the block learning to ride their two-wheelers, posing a safety hazard or two as you're returning from the grocery store? Volvo's new Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection feature is not only smart enough to make a distinction between the two, it can alert you and brake, if needed, to prevent a crash.

The system works with a rearview-mirror-mounted camera and a radar unit in the grille. If you're approaching a person on foot or a bike or a car too quickly, warning lights flash. The system will appear on the V40, S60, V60, XC60, V70, XC70 and S80 in mid-May.

I know, I know — we should keep our eyes on the road and watch out for this stuff on our own, right? Of course, but it doesn't hurt to have technology backing you up. Personally? I can't wait to see if the Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection system works with shopping carts.
Courtesy of Cars.com.

Visit us at Sandberg Northwest Volvo to see our inventory and to set up a test drive!

Legendary Record!

The Volvo S60 excels in the IIHS small overlap frontal crash test. Volvo’s record is legendary! With the award of a Top Safety Pick+ shows how successfully Volvo has managed to excite and modernize its fleet without straying from its core tenets of safety and solidity.

Holding Their Own!

SUVs and trucks might get all the attention when it comes to towing capability, but there are quite a few sedans, hatchbacks and wagons that also have the goods to haul some fairly heavy loads. Their towing capacity may not be that of a full-size SUV but the Volvo S60 can really hold its own. With a towing capacity of 3,300 pounds it has more than enough to do the trick!

CAR TIP OF THE WEEK: ABE COMING IN HANDY

Special attention should be paid to the tread on your tires, especially this time of year. Your vehicle cannot properly grip the road without sufficient tread on the tire. Insufficient tread can lead to major safety issues. Just follow these three easy tips to determine if your tires need to be replaced. All you need is a penny!

1. Insert good ole Abe’s head in to the tread in a couple different spots on the tire. If the entire top of Abe’s head is showing then your tread is less than 1/16^th of an inch deep and needs to be replaced.

2. Any tread below 2/32 of an inch should be replaced. 

3. All tires have "wear bars," which are small, raised bars of rubber in the groove that indicate when tires are worn out. If your tread is worn down to the wear bars, it's time for a new tire.