A few days ago, Volvo introduced the world's first pedestrian airbag system, marking a major leap in vehicle safety innovation. For years, Volvo has been at the forefront of automotive safety, continuously pushing boundaries to protect not just drivers, but also pedestrians. This groundbreaking technology has now been recognized globally, earning the “2013 Global NCAP Safety Innovation Awardâ€.
Lotta Jakobsson, a senior technical expert from the Volvo Car Safety Research Center, accepted the award on behalf of the company at the ESV Vehicle Safety Promotion Association in Seoul, South Korea. She emphasized, "Pedestrian airbags are designed to significantly reduce head injuries in the event of a collision with a pedestrian." These airbags are strategically placed between the car’s hood and windshield. When the vehicle detects an impact through seven front-mounted sensors, the system quickly analyzes the data. If it identifies the pattern of a human leg, the airbag deploys instantly, while the hood automatically lifts by 10 cm. This creates a safer space for pedestrians, reducing the risk of hitting hard components like the windshield or A-pillars.
Research shows that in China, about 25% of traffic accident victims are pedestrians, compared to 14% in Europe and 12% in the U.S. The hood, windshield, and A-pillars are often the main causes of injury in such collisions. The new Volvo V40, equipped with this innovative pedestrian airbag system, achieved the highest score in its class during NCAP testing, with an impressive 88% pedestrian protection rating—setting a new benchmark in the industry.
Last year, the V40 earned a perfect five-star rating in the NCAP crash test, making it one of the safest compact luxury hatchbacks available. Volvo’s commitment to safety extends beyond passengers, covering all road users. By April, the V40 had already surpassed 45,000 units sold globally, with over 1,000 orders in China. This strong market performance highlights the growing trust in Volvo’s safety innovations.
In addition to the pedestrian airbag, the V40 features advanced safety systems like the pedestrian detection with full-automatic braking, introduced by Volvo in 2010. This system can automatically brake the vehicle at speeds under 35 km/h if a pedestrian is detected, preventing a collision entirely. At higher speeds, it reduces the vehicle’s speed as much as possible before impact, minimizing the severity of potential injuries. Such technologies reflect Volvo’s ongoing mission to make roads safer for everyone.Complex Precision Turned Parts
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