Volvo and POC have combined forces to create a new crash test between cars and bicycle riders.
The test, which is based on regulatory procedures for pedestrian protection, uses a testing rig to collide crash dummy heads wearing POC helmets with the bonnet (or hood) of a static Volvo car.
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The testing process is sophisticated in comparison to most regulatory helmet tests that tend to involve dropping helmets from different heights on varied surfaces.
The research is part of a larger project that aims to deliver understanding on the types of long-term injuries sustained by cyclists and ultimately to develop protection principles for the benefits of road traffic safety. Its findings should mutually benefit both companies but should also help to improve the often rudimentary helmet tests that are the industry norm.
Volvo currently leads the way when it comes to the protection of cyclists on public roads. That’s because each of its cars sold today include a sophisticated detection system as standard.
The technology, which works for pedestrians and cyclists alike, uses information from a radar unit in the grille and a camera in front of the rear view mirror to constantly assess the road for potential collisions. Should the system detect a potential crash is imminent, the driver of the car is then presented with a red warning flash before the car will automatically provide full braking power.
Volvo’s safety mission remains incredibly ambitious, with the company publicly stating in 2008 that “by 2020 nobody should be seriously injured or killed in a new Volvo car”.
The two Swedish companies that are both known for their commitment to safety first announced their partnership back in 2014.
