SourceMake all the jokes you want about Volvo cars being indestructible, but the company knows how to make safe cars. Depicted in the video above is Volvo's latest foray into the bleeding edge of safety technology.
Called Pedestrian Detection, it's a new system geared towards reducing injuries sustained by pedestrians if hit by a car. It works by deploying the world's first external airbag across the windshield and hood to help cushion the impact.
This
Perfect example of what I am talking about
Not always. If an idiot runs in front of a car When not at a walkway. Then its not the drivers fault.
At the end of the day even if the person I hit does take me to the cleaners, I would still be happier if the severity of their injuries was reduced by something like this.
Automatic radar controlled braking has been around for awhile. I'm actually surprised Volvo didn't have this before, as Volvo is known for there safety features.
I'll take an equally myopic, callous view:
Originally Posted by Oedipus
I'll take an equally myopic, callous view:
If I hit somebody accidentally and they sue me, I would prefer that their injuries be as severe as possible. Depending on how "the victim" and their counsel handles things, I may even entertain the idea that I should have hit them hard enough to just be done with it. Frivolous, manufactured suits by ambulance chasing attorneys do not impress me at all. This new volvo technology wont help with that.
So, why bother being sued if your insurance will deal with everything?
Your premiums will still probably go up.
The automatic braking is actually quite beneficial to those who clearly don't pay attention to the wheel. Which is seen a lot of times on the road, in fact it's what destroyed my old Audi S4. Lady was not paying attention and slammed into the back of my car at around 35mph.Originally Posted by Thingamajig
This kind of stuff is pretty cool.
What isn't cool is this laser technology crap that automatically makes the vehicle brake whenever the vehicle detects a "threat".
Now as a motorist myself, i trust my judgement far over any machines. I can't even stand ABS because it takes the brake off when i want it most, and i'm perfectly capable of recovering from a slide or skid, thanks.
Thanks Volvo, but i'm more than capable of driving my own vehicle. This is a future of driving that i'm really, really not too keen on seeing. Sadly people just don't want to take responsibility for their own mistakes and i really think before long, we won't even be driving our own vehicles at all.
Total Bs, i gotta be honest. This rubbish reminds me of that scene from The Fifth Element with the machine taxi driver.
1. ThisOriginally Posted by Boyboyd
1. Your premiums will still probably go up.
2. Totally don't get the radar assisted braking thing. Does it know your speed, the car in front's speed, the distance between. Then does it wait until you're past the point-of-no-return and brake as hard as it can?
3. Seems to be taking more control away from the driver. I think it's going to cause more problems than it solves. Like automatic parallel parking.
No matter how much technology you cram into a car/train/whatever it won't stop someone jumping out in front of you.