Volvo's European Customers Get Accident V2V Alert System

Volvo is accelerating the drive toward increased vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) technology with the European launch of its driver warning system.

Its new Accident Ahead Alert uses other connected cars in the relevant zone to warn approaching drivers that an accident or serious incident has occurred on their journey’s route. It claims an industry first in bringing the system to market using real-time data from a traffic management center. It will be available in compatible Volvo cars in Europe, starting in Denmark.

It will operate within a range of a few hundred yards and location data is provided by national road authorities and compatible cars, starting with other Volvo cars.

The current driver alert system uses Volvo Cars’ cloud based on real-time data. It allows cars to communicate with each other and warn drivers of nearby slippery road conditions and hazards. Now this will include accidents ahead regardless of the time of the day.

The automaker hopes in the future to integrate more traffic data shared by other partners in the European Data for Road Safety ecosystem, including national traffic management centers in other countries and cars from other brands.

To join the system Volvo drivers can simply activate it using the “connected safety” option in their car’s center display. The car will then be able to alert the driver of an accident ahead by using the hazard light alert in the dashboard and, if available, the head-up display.

Åsa Haglund, head of Volvo Cars Safety Center, says: “Using our groundbreaking connected safety technology, our Accident Ahead Alert can help Volvo drivers avoid unpleasant surprises while contributing to making roads safer for all. Thanks to our collaboration with the Danish Road Directorate and other partners in the Data for Road Safety ecosystem, we can introduce this new feature and continue our leadership in safety innovations.”