The safest Volvo in the world

The driver of a new Volvo FH will emerge from a 80 kph collision without any serious injuries. And if the truck rolled over, there is an emergency exit at hand.

Thousands of simulated collision tests and about 100 real crash tests have allowed Volvo Trucks’ engineers to develop a safer truck cab.

Carl Johan Almqvist, traffic and product safety director at Volvo Trucks, says: “We have utilised new technology, new materials and everything we have learned since our most recent cab. We have used all this to build an even safer truck. The result is the world’s safest Volvo.”

High-strength materials such as dual-phase steel have been used in collision-absorbing beams and in the doors. The cab too uses the strongest steel available today for body panelling – ultra-high-strength, thermoset, pressmoulded boron steel.

Robert Ritzén, head of materials in the new cab, adds: “By using these new grades of steel, we can build a stronger cab without increasing its weight. This way, we enhance safety without compromising on payload capacity.”

Customised steel panels
Strength and function are also enhanced with new technology, including laser welding. This method makes it possible to join together two flat panels prior to moulding. Ritzén continues: “As a result, we can customise each panel’s thickness and quality. With this kind of panel, we can optimise the structure and integrate Volvo’s unique safety solutions into the cab.”

Several changes in the cab’s structure also boost safety. The cab is now larger since the A-pillars are more upright, creating more room inside the cab for the driver. The door and floor structures have also been altered to provide the best possible protection in a collision and the windscreen is bonded in place. According to Almqvist, the windscreen previously served as an emergency exit, now the roof hatch plays that role.

A matter of safety
A safe truck can also be used safely. The new Volvo FH has larger windows and a clearer instrument panel and the field of vision has been increased considerably. Almqvist adds: “What is most important from a traffic safety viewpoint is that the driver has a good field of vision and they can keep their eyes on the road. A quick glance at the instrument panel should be enough to give them the information they need.”

Active systems such as Lane Keeping Support (LKS), Lane Changing Support (LCS), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Driver Alert Support (DAS) also contribute to safe driving. After all, a rested and relaxed driver is also a safer driver. “The fact that a comfortable bed benefits traffic safety is probably not the first thought to enter your mind. But a driver who gets a proper night’s sleep, and feels rested and alert throughout the working day, actually causes fewer accidents,” Almqvist states.

Safer for car drivers
The Front Underrun Protection System (FUPS) is designed to prevent a passenger car from becoming wedged under the truck in a frontal collision. The protection system in the new Volvo FH represents a major step forward from the safety viewpoint. “Volvo fits an energy-absorbing under-run protection system as standard. We have succeeded in improving and reinforcing the system – without increasing its weight.”

Protection from criminals
The new Volvo FH also spotlights another aspect of safety. “The truck has several new features that protect the driver against breakins. Among other things, you can activate the truck’s perimeter lighting using the remote control on the key fob or deter any potential thieves by activating the truck’s horn.”

What goes into making a safer Volvo FH?
Some of the changes that increase safety in the new Volvo FH are:
• new, stronger materials, including
ultra-high-strength boron steel
• new technologies such as
laser welding
• new cab structure
• improved visibility
• active safety systems such as LKS, LCS, ACC and Das.