Volvo Initiates a Traffic Accident Research Centre in China

1 November 2006

Volvo Car Corporation and Volvo Group (Trucks and Buses) are to set up a joint Traffic Accident Research Centre in China.

With its active traffic accident research, Volvo is continuing to acquire information and expertise in the drive to develop safer vehicles, while at the same time hoping to contribute to safer road traffic in the world’s most populous country.

Volvo’s in-house traffic accident research function is already one of the best-developed in the automotive industry. From its centre in Gothenburg, Sweden plus other local operations in the USA and Thailand, Volvo has built up a unique database of information about almost 40,000 accidents, involving more than 50,000 people.

Many of the safety innovations that Volvo has introduced have been developed from the knowledge gained by Volvo’s accident research. These include deformable steering wheel and the three-point safety belt. Other examples that help avoid accidents, and reduce injuries, if an accident is unavoidable, are Volvo’s WHIPS (Whiplash Protection System), SIPS (side impact protection system) and ESP electronic stability enhancement system.

There were 110,000 traffic fatalities in China in 2003. In recent years, however, there has been a reduction to just over 100,000 and Volvo hopes that its local research, in cooperation with local organisations and universities, will make a valuable contribution to help continue this downward trend.

http://www.newspress.co.uk/DAILY_LINKS/arc_nov_2006/031106vt.htm