NEW VOLVO TECH COULD INTERVENE DURING DISTRACTED & INTOXICATED DRIVING

• Volvo’s new monitoring system is designed to reduce the impact of distracted driving and impaired driving.
• This technology allows a vehicle to intervene automatically if the driver does not respond to warnings.
• Volvo, as part of a broader conversation, asks whether automakers are required to develop such technology.

Volvo has unveiled new technology to prevent fatal accidents caused by impairment, speeding and distraction. Volvo is reinforcing their vision for a world with zero traffic deaths, stating that it’s important to close these three “gaps”. This news comes after Volvo’s recent announcement to limit the top speed of all its cars to 111mph beginning in 2021.

Volvo wants to start a discussion about whether automakers should have the right or even the obligation to implement technology that could change the behavior of drivers.

Henrik Green Senior Vice President of Research & Development, Volvo Cars, explained that “when it comes to safety our goal is to prevent accidents rather than to limit the impact in cases where an accident is inevitable and imminent.” In this case, the cameras will be monitoring for behaviors that could lead to serious injury or even death.

What the Data Shows

Intoxicated driving accounted for nearly 30% of traffic deaths in 2017, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The National Safety Council also provided data that showed around 80,000 road deaths in the United States between 2017 and 2018. The latest statistics show a gradual leveling-off, with fewer fatalities during the first half of 2018. (Less that 0.5 percent compared to six-month estimates for 2017).

Experts believe that it could be only a “stabilization”, of the biggest two-year rise in more than 50 years, between 2014 and 2016.

Ken Kolosh is the Manager of Statistics at National Safety Council. He said: “We are not making any progress in reducing this leading cause for accidental deaths. We’re just treading water.” “We can’t accept that more than 18700 people have died as the price for mobility.”

Volvo’s new camera-monitoring system is designed to reduce the impact of distracted driving and impaired driving. Photo: Volvo Car Group.

Active Approach

Volvo believes that fatal accidents caused by intoxication or distraction can be prevented with cameras and sensors that monitor drivers. The vehicle will automatically intervene if an impaired driver fails to respond to warnings and risks an accident. The vehicle can automatically limit the speed of the car, alert the Volvo On Call service, and as a last resort, actively slow down and park the car.

Trent Victor, Volvo Cars’ Professor of Driver Behavior, said that many accidents are caused by drunk drivers. Some people believe they can still drive after drinking and it won’t affect their abilities. Intoxication can put people in danger.

Graph: Volvo Car Group.

Recognizing Patters

Volvo’s driver-monitoring system is designed to detect certain signs of distracted or drunk driving. The system will look for signs such as a prolonged lack of steering inputs, extreme weaving between lanes and slow reactions. The system can detect if the driver has taken their eyes off of the road or closed them for a long time. Volvo’s technology can intervene, for example, if a driver texts behind the wheel.

The Michigan State Police’s Traffic Safety Specialist Jim Flegel said that it takes an average of 4.6 seconds to text a message. At 55 mph that’s like driving a football field while blindfolded.

NHTSA reports that distracted driving was responsible for 3,450 fatalities in 2016. NHTSA’s Traffic Safety Facts Research Note Distracted Driving found that drivers younger than 20 years old were the most likely to be involved in fatal accidents caused by distractions.

Implementation and Future Considerations

Volvo intends to introduce the cameras in 2020. Position, number, and location of the cameras are still to be determined. Experts say that driving defensively will keep you safe while waiting for the camera to be installed. Always wear your seat belt, don’t text, obey the signs and ignore all messages.

Flegel stated that “100% of accidents related to drunken driving and distracted driving can be prevented.”

This report was written by the Automoblog Staff.