Volvo aims to prevent death or serious injury by 2020

What Car? magazine has awarded Volvo with the Safety Award at the 2011 What Car? awards. Volvo won this award because of its new Pedestrian Detection system. The safety system uses a mixture of laser, radar and camera technology, so that the vehicle can recognise a human being above 80cm tall or a vehicle ahead. The system will apply the brakes automatically if it calculates an impending impact.

The system gives an initial warning to the driver in the form of an audible signal and flashing lights in the head up display if it detects a possible collision. The main purpose of this warning is to alert the driver so he or she can apply the brakes or steer out of danger. If the driver does not respond to the warning, the car automatically brakes with full force moments before the collision becomes unavoidable. With automatic braking, collisions can, in certain circumstances, be avoided at speeds of up to 21mph.

Steve Fowler, What Car? Editor in Chief said, "Volvo has long been the pioneer of all things safety, from the three point safety belt to this latest innovation. It's great to know that Volvo is putting as much emphasis on keeping pedestrians safe as it does those inside its cars. For that, it's deserving of this year's What Car? Safety Award."

Peter Rask, Regional President of Volvo Car UK, Ireland and Iceland said during his acceptance speech, “It is a great pleasure to receive this award. It is in recognition of Volvo's continuing leadership in the field of vehicle safety innovations and technology. Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake is another world-first that Volvo has brought to market, to join a long line of safety advancements, helping us towards our mission that no-one will be killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo car by 2020”

City Safety is another Volvo accident prevention system; it reacts if the vehicle in front is at a standstill, or moving in the same direction as your own car to prevent rear end impacts. The new Volvo C30 Rhyl is available with many safety features including City Safety.