Volvo simulates severe crash to help extraction specialists tune their interventions
November 18 2020,
Volvo has always focused on safety, and is responsible for numerous innovations including the seat belt. Now, Volvo is looking to improve the response time after a severe accident in order to increase the rate of survival after a major collision.
In simple terms, Volvo wants to help extraction specialists get passengers out quicker from the vehicle after an extreme crash. To make this possible, Volvo took several models and dropped them from 30 metres using a crane. The resulting impact simulates some of the worst collisions possible on the road, such as hitting a truck at full speed.
This type of impact isn’t possible to simulate in normal testing conditions. The results of the testing will be compiled in a report with a special focus on extraction after the impact. The goal is to make this report available to any rescue team that wants to improve its response time.
“We have been working closely together with the Swedish rescue services for many years,” says Håkan Gustafson, a senior investigator with the Volvo Cars Traffic Accident Research Team. “That is because we have the same goal: to have safer roads for all. We hope no one ever needs to experience the most severe accidents, but not all accidents can be avoided. So it is vital there are methods to help save lives when the most severe accidents do happen.”
