Volvo Taking on Rear-End Collisions

If there’s one car company associated with safety, it’s Volvo. Now, the Swedish automaker has developed a new system that can detect impending low-speed collisions and apply braking to avoid the accident. Called City Safety — because Volvo assumes low-speed collisions are more frequent in urban areas — the system monitors a car up to 19 feet in front of you at speeds of up to 18 mph and will either pre-charge the brakes so you can avoid the accident yourself or, if the car in front brakes suddenly, the system will fully apply the brakes for you.

Volvo says 75% of reported collisions occur in this speed range, and the system could greatly reduce repair costs and related injuries, like whiplash. City Safety sounds great for mall parking lots and congested highways, but we wonder what happens when the car behind you doesn’t have this system?

Source: Volvo