Volvo announces safety firsts

Volvo has announced that its 'Collision Warning with Emergency Braking' safety system will soon be available in Australia.

Speaking in Brisbane at a Volvo media event the day before the opening of the Brisbane Truck Show, Mitch Peden, Volvo Trucks Vice President – Sales (pictured), said the system would be available to order in Australia in coming months.

"It will be available for purchase [for most models] in week 25, available to be received by our customers out of our factory in the third and fourth quarters of this year," he said.

The system uses a combination of radar and a camera to sense an impending collision with a vehicle in front of the truck, up to relative speeds of 70km/h.

Initially a warning light appears on a Head Up Display (HUD) to alert the driver of the potential collision. Should the driver take no action, the light then begins to flash and an audible alert sounds. If the drive still doesn't react, the truck automatically applies light brakes, followed by emergency braking to a full stop, if required.

Available to order now in FE models, the system may be ordered with FH, FH16, FM, and FMX models from June.

See the clip below for a run-through of Volvo's Collision Warning with Emergency Braking…

Meanwhile AB Volvo has unveiled its new Automatic Traction Control system, which automatically engages and disengages drive to the front wheels on FMX models to maintain maximum traction in varying terrain.

"We're the first manufacturer to offer this solution to the market, automatically activating the drive to the front axle when in motion if there is any risk of the truck getting stuck," said Peden.

Already proven in Volvo construction equipment, Volvo says it's the first time an all-wheel-drive system of this type has been offered in trucks.

When sensors at the rear wheels detect any loss of traction, within half a second a dog clutch begins transmitting drive to the front wheels. All-wheel drive then remains engaged until the driver backs off the accelerator.

Volvo says the system delivers maximum traction when it's needed and maximum fuel economy when it isn't.

The system will undoubtedly come as welcome news to those in the quarry and construction sectors, although a local release date is yet to be announced.

See the clip below for an explanation of Volvo's new Automatic Traction Control…