Volvo Launches Hazard Warning Feature in Europe and North America

Volvo is enhancing road safety with a new hazard warning feature rolling out for its EX90, ES90, and EX60 models across Europe and North America. The system aims to proactively alert drivers to potential dangers, such as large animals, pedestrians, or cyclists on the road.

The functionality relies on shared data from Volvo's network of connected vehicles. Cars identify road hazards using their sensors and cameras. Once a hazard is detected, its specific location is automatically recorded and uploaded to Volvo's servers. This information is then transmitted to other Volvo vehicles on the same stretch of road, provided they maintain cloud connectivity and the road is present in the map database.

The system is designed to detect four types of risks: large animals, vulnerable road users like pedestrians and cyclists, road construction zones, and traffic accidents. Currently, one million Volvo cars are equipped to utilize this connected safety warning capability.

Volvo also shares the gathered warning data with traffic management centers and other automotive manufacturers. This collaboration ensures that vehicles from different brands can also benefit from the alerts. The company has been leveraging connected car technology for hazard warnings since 2016.