The Accident Ahead Alert function is designed to instantly alert the driver to an accident up to several hundred metres ahead. Location data is provided by local road services and vehicles with similar functionality. If an accident is detected ahead, a notification will appear on the dashboard and projection display in front of the driver.
The system utilises the Volvo Cars cloud, which allows cars to communicate with each other and is already used to alert other drivers to difficult road conditions and other hazards. The Swedish brand plans to integrate more traffic data shared with partners in the European road safety data ecosystem, including additional traffic control centres and cars from other brands.
The upcoming crash alert system will initially be available in all Volvo 40, 60 and 90 Series models in Denmark, starting with the 2016 model year. The safety system will soon be available on the same models in other European markets. Users can activate the system using the "Connected Safety" option on the infotainment display, where data sharing must be enabled.
"A quick alert about an accident ahead gives the driver more time to slow down and increase the distance to the car in front. This helps to lower the risk of follow-up collisions and protect the people working to clear the road." - head of the Danish Traffic Management Center at the Danish Road Directorate, Stine Bendsen said.
Source: Volvo
