Anti-crash technology hailed as ‘a massive breakthrough’
NEW safety technology being fitted to a handful of vehicles designed to stop them crashing has been hailed as a ‘massive breakthrough’ by Thatcham, the Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre...
Volvo’s City Safety will be fitted as standard to the all-new XC60
Cars that can’t crash may appear to be a fantasy of science fiction, but Thatcham experts say after putting the cutting-edge technologies to the test that they could in time save more than 125,000 injuries a year.
The systems mitigate, and in some cases prevent low speed shunts and collisions – the most common type of crash – which creates billions of pounds worth of damage to vehicles and untold pain and misery to drivers and their passengers. Such incidents account for 75% of all road traffic crashes.
Systems
Three different systems have been tested by Thatcham: Volvo’s City Safety, which will be fitted as standard to the all-new XC60, which will go on sale in the UK in the autumn; Mercedes’ Distronic Plus, which is currently available on some S-Class models; and Honda’s collision mitigation braking system, which is available on the CR-V and will feature on the new Accord.
Massive
Matthew Avery, Thatcham research manager – crash, said: “These systems are a massive breakthrough for keeping motorists safe. Vehicle manufacturers should be congratulated for developing and introducing this technology, which is significant for the safety of all UK road users.
“Collision avoidance systems represent the future of accident and injury reduction on UK roads. They will make a major impact on the number of slow speed accidents in Britain and across the world.
“Thatcham believes that if manufacturers embrace the new systems and fit them as standard more than 125,000 injuries will be prevented each year in Britain alone. This is just the beginning of the collision avoidance revolution. We will see systems that can detect pedestrians and other vulnerable road users and even steer the car to avoid a crash.”
However, said Mr Avery, it would take a number of years before enough cars in the UK were fitted with the technology to reduce rear-end collisions, but once a threshold was reached the number of injured crash victims would tumble.
“Most accidents involve two or more vehicles – so every car fitted with the kit can save damage and injury to others,” he said.
Commenting on the technology offered by the manufacturers, Mr Avery said: “All three systems offer enhanced protection. The Volvo in particular impressed because of its autonomous operation and the fact that it intervened at the last second and can completely avoid a crash.”
Imperative
However, he added: “It is imperative that driver vigilance is not lowered by the inclusion of such systems in their vehicles. These should not allow the driver to compensate and take additional risks. The car is not the driver - the driver drives the car.”
Volvo City Safety: The allnew XC60 is claimed to be the safest ever car from the Swedish manufacturer. The crossover sector car features a variety of intelligent safety systems. But, the most significant feature is City Safety – a unique system that can help the driver avoid or reduce the effects of the type of low-speed impacts that are common in city traffic and traffic tailbacks. A laser sensor built into the car’s windscreen scans up to six yards ahead and reacts to traffic in front that is either stationary or moving in the same direction.
The technology makes split second calculations and if the driver fails to slow, the system brakes automatically and disables the accelerator at speeds up to 20 mph. The technology will be rolled out across all new models in the future and could also find its way into vehicles from Ford, which owns Volvo.Volvo Cars president and CEO Fredrik Arp said: “We are the first manufacturer in the world to offer this type of feature as standard. City Safety clearly shows that the new XC60 is the safest car Volvo has ever produced.”
CMBS will appear as an option on the all-new Accord
Mitigation
Honda collision mitigation braking system: CMBS, which is already an option on the Honda CR-V, will also appear as an option on the all-new Accord, which will enter UK showrooms in June. Now part of the manufacturer’s updated and optional ADAS (Advanced Driving Assist System), CMBS is a radar system that monitors the distance and closing rate between the Honda and the car directly in front of it, warning the driver of a likely collision with alarms and seatbelt ‘tugs’. If the system detects that a collision is unavoidable, it automatically applies braking to reduce the effects of an impact.
Introduced
Mercedes-Benz Distronic Safety: Brake Assist Plus was introduced on the current S-Class and the technology includes Distronic Plus.
The radar-supported system operates at all speeds between zero and 125 mph (where conditions allow). It provides a continual calculation of the distance between the S-Class and the car in front and the speed differential between them.
It automatically brakes the car to a standstill if necessary and accelerates it back to the required speed when the traffic starts moving again.
Training for Land Rover fleet
Land Rover is providing a dedicated training programme for National Grid Wireless, the provider of large-scale transmission infrastructure to broadcasters and mobile telecommunications operators in the UK...
The training course has been developed to enable engineers who drive 4x4 vehicles to cope with adverse conditions on and off road.
Peter Sanders, general manager, operational services, at National Grid Wireless, said: “This specifically tailored training programme will ensure that the company’s field operations team has the knowledge and ability to use 4x4 vehicles safely and effectively; in all weather conditions and terrains.”
Land Rover’s UK marketing director Andy Griffiths, said: “We work with emergency services, police, and ambulance teams across the country. With nearly 60 years of experience in overcoming the elements and negotiating any terrain, we have a wealth of experience to share with organisations such as National Grid Wireless.”
Land Rover is also providing expert tuition for the Highways Agency, which has taken delivery of 49 Discovery 3 vehicles. The organisation is responsible for maintaining and operating England’s motorways and major A roads.
Saab tackles driver drowsiness problem
Saab is testing a driver attention warning system designed to counter two of the most common causes of road accidents – driver drowsiness and inattention at the wheel...
More than 300 people in the UK are killed as a result of drivers falling asleep at the wheel each year.
The development project technology, which is installed in a Saab 9-3 Sport Wagon, alerts the driver by using a combination of text and voice messages, or vibrations in the seat cushion, as soon as the risk of drowsiness or inattention is detected. Research has shown that not only are 20% of accidents cause by sleeplessness, but death tolls from sleep-related incidents are three times higher than other accidents, presumably because the drivers do not swerve or apply their brakes, says Saab.
Unlike other similar systems, the driver attention warning system does not rely on measuring an erratic change in the steered direction of the vehicle. It is designed to detect the onset of drowsiness or inattention, rather than the immediate consequences.
It utilises two miniature infrared cameras, one installed at the base of the driver’s A-pillar and the other in the centre of the main fascia, which are focused on the driver’s eyes. The image from the cameras is analysed by software that deploys a series of alerts when the pattern of eye-lid movement indicates the onset of drowsiness, or when the driver is not looking at the road ahead.
The system measures the driver’s rate of eye blinking. When the cameras detect a pattern of long duration eye-lid closures, indicating the potential onset of drowsiness, a series of three warnings is initiated. The third and final verbal warning message, “You are dangerously tired - stop as soon as it is safe to do so!” can only be cancelled when the driver presses a reset button in the fascia. The system is then immediately reactivated.
The trial is part of a development and validation process that could see the system become available in future Saab cars.
Hybrid Lexus bristles with safety features
THE petrol-electric Lexus LS 600h is winning chief executive approval for its ‘green’ credentials, but it also has some of the most advanced safety features in the world, just like its luxury car petrol-engined sister, the LS460...
Both models feature the latest in pre-crash safety technology using a system that keeps an eye – or six eyes to be exact – on the driver and their concentration levels.
Among the plethora of safety systems on the car, is the world’s first camera-based driver monitoring system forming part of the advanced pre-crash safety system.
Recognise
The system brings together a series of features that can recognise a potentially dangerous situation, help the driver take avoiding action and reduce the risk of a collision happening. If there is an impact, they also work to help minimise the consequences.
When the vehicle is moving and an obstacle is detected ahead, the system automatically activates a pre-crash warning buzzer and applies the brakes to warn of the danger.
If this fails to prompt driver action, the pre-crash safety system engages emergency braking preparation and pretensioning of the front seatbelts.
As well as scanning the driver’s face and the road ahead, the Lexus LS is also looking behind with its rear pre-crash safety system.
If a collision is calculated to be unavoidable, the system activates the front seat pre-crash intelligent headrests, greatly reducing the risk of whiplash injury.