| Accident
Reconstruction Network > News
Accident Reconstruction News Article
Volvo Group's Safety Knowledge to Reduce Traffic Accidents
in Humanitarian Aid Transports
STOCKHOLM, Sweden--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 17, 2006--The
Volvo Group (NASDAQ:VOLVY - News; NASDAQ:VOLVF - News; STO:VOLVA) (STO:VOLVB)
is initiating cooperation with 40 humanitarian aid organizations worldwide
to increase awareness of traffic safety issues and reduce the number of accidents
in humanitarian aid transports. Among other actions, the Volvo Group's own
accident research team will contribute with analyses.
Volvo has signed a declaration of intent covering cooperation
in the area of road safety with Fleet Forum, a voluntary association of about
40 humanitarian aid organizations worldwide. In accordance with the declaration
of intent, Volvo will assist the organizations in analyzing traffic accidents
and recommend measures to increase general road safety awareness of traffic
safety issues and to reduce the number of accidents.
The humanitarian aid organizations will receive customized data
sheets, with the aim to facilitate the reporting of traffic accidents. The
collection of data will begin in mid-2006, and the first report will be presented
in 2007. The Volvo Group's own accident research team will analyze the causes
of the accidents and present recommendations for measures to reduce the number
of accidents and their consequences. The project will continue until 2009,
and a total of three reports will be presented.
Volvo has conducted its own accident research since 1969, a
program that is now an integrated part of the Group's product development.
In conjunction with a traffic accident involving a heavy vehicle, representatives
of the accident research team are sent out to investigate the cause and site
of the accident. The information collected is analyzed and experience from
the accident investigation board's work is then used in product development.
Based on the accident research team's work, Volvo Group has
developed several different automotive systems through the years to reduce
the risk of accidents and their consequences. Some examples include ESP (Electronic
Stability Program), which reduces the risk of skidding on slippery roads and
rollovers in sharp curves, as well as ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control), which
automatically adapts a vehicle's speed to slow-moving vehicles in front. Three
decades of accident research have also shown that seatbelts are still the
single most effective measure to reduce the risk of injuries for the driver
in an accident.
The Fleet Forum, based in Geneva, is a joint initiative by the
WFP (UN World Food Program), IFRC (International Federation of the Red Cross)
and World Vision International and represents more than 40 humanitarian aid
organizations. The organizations that comprise the Fleet Forum run a combined
fleet of more than 60,000 vehicles and have annual operating costs of about
USD 800 M. The Fleet Forum's goal is to increase its humanitarian transport
capacity through development and utilization of uniform work methods for vehicle
fleet management and operation.
May 17, 2006
The Volvo Group is one of the world's leading manufacturers
of trucks, buses and construction equipment, drive systems for marine and
industrial applications, aerospace components and services. The Group also
provides complete solutions for financing and service. The Volvo Group, which
employs about 82,000 people, has production facilities in 25 countries and
sells their products in more than 185 markets. Annual sales of the Volvo Group
amount to more than 20 billion euro. The Volvo Group is a publicly-held company
headquartered in Goteborg, Sweden. Volvo shares are listed on the stock exchanges
in Stockholm and on NASDAQ in the US.
This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net
Contact:
Volvo
Marten Wikforss, +46 31 66 11 27 or +46 705 59 11 49
###
Back to Accident
Reconstruction News
|