Volvo: safety first

From the million lives saved with the belts offered as standard to the zero accident target for the future. The Swedish manufacturer is relaunching the challenge on a theme that remains current

The Swedish company is constantly at the forefront of safety, ever since the introduction of standard seat belts in 1959, which since then, not surprisingly, have saved a million motorists. In more recent times it has instead launched the provocation of the mandatory limit of 180 per hour as the maximum speed on all its future models, arousing many perplexities on the part of some potential buyers, especially those who live in Germany where on many motorway sections there is no are speed limits. But at Volvo they are not at all willing to go back to their decision. Here’s how and why!

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VOLVO DOESN’T RETURN

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“To stop at speeds above 180 per hour requires too much space and the risks are high, unmanageable even by the most modern technological devices”, said Malin Ekholm, director of the Safety Center in Gothenburg. Distractions, road conditions, weather and light push us to introduce sensors capable of monitoring the driver’s gaze and movements, to ensure maximum safety. “But even that is not enough: it takes education, the main driving factor, super important,” added Malin Ekholm. For his part, Magnus Granstrom, from the Swedish road safety agency, explained that it is necessary to change perspective: not to reduce fatal accidents, but to aim for their elimination.

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THE CIRCULATING PARK IS TOO OLD

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“Of the 40 million cars currently circulating in Italy, half or almost are Euro 4 or even less – explained Michele Crisci, president of Volvo Italy and also of Unrae, the association of foreign manufacturers operating in Italy – when we and Mercedes we introduced the ABS, there were many who did not understand how it worked, because they did not see the braking lines on the asphalt ”. Adding that it is necessary “to accelerate in car replacement and Volvo does so by focusing on safety and not for marketing reasons, but for a commitment that is part of the brand’s DNA and has always been our primary commitment”. However, Crisci himself stressed that the technique can never replace the good behavior of users, even if it may become an important anti-distraction device in the future.

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ROAD EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS

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Despite being provided for by state law, it has never become a fixed subject in the school curriculum. Federica Deledda, the Cremona Polstrada manager, reiterated this and warned about young people. “It is absurd to put used cars and old carts in the hands of new drivers because if they crash, there is no problem. The data speak for themselves: according to Istat, in 2019 there were 3,173 deaths from accidents, 73.8 on urban roads and the causes are speed, distractions and smartphone use. Restrict the mobile phone? “The problem of social networks and the fear of young people of being cut off when they are driving should be inhibited, is becoming a real disease, we need to work on road education because even the technology that evolves cannot be enough alone”.

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A DEFRIBILLATOR ON BOARD THE CAR?

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Why not! To propose it is an expert in the sector Federico Semeraro who illustrated the experience of what was done by the Dutch branch of Volvo which equipped 25 cars with life-saving kits, involving as many volunteers with an investment of 9,000 euros per car. “The result is that over 200 lives have been saved in this way, thanks to the timely intervention with the on-board defibrillator and the application that allows you to quickly notify emergency services”. A solution to be evaluated and perhaps also to be proposed again by us, assured the president of Volvo Italy Michele Crisci.

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ARE ELECTRICS SAFE?

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Still on the subject of safety, the question is increasingly asked whether electric cars are just as safe as cars with thermal engines. Do not worry, Federica Foiadelli, engineer of the energy department of the Politecnico di Milano, guarantees the safety of battery-powered models. “Today the challenge to achieve sustainable mobility is and will increasingly be electric cars that our children will use”. However, is the topic of infrastructures still topical? “Builders, institutions and energy players must work more and more together. Only by comparing and making available their skills will it be possible to find the right solutions for the next few years also for the infrastructures that remain the most critical problem for electricity.

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