FYI: Volvo’s Latest Safety Innovation Alerts Drivers Who Look at the Road ‘Too Much’
Volvo’s newest generation of active safety systems debuts in the U.S. with the EX90, and it offers a twist that might surprise many drivers. While many safety systems alert you when you’re not looking at the road enough, Volvo’s system will also beep if you stare at the road too intensely. This clever feature addresses a form of distraction that can be just as dangerous as the more obvious types.
The Modern Car and Its Beeps
Modern vehicles are notorious for their beeps and alerts. They chime when you deviate from your lane, signal with a vehicle in your blindspot, leave something in the back seat, forget your phone, or drive with the windows down. Conventional safety systems typically beep if you aren’t watching the road. However, the Volvo EX90 innovates by beeping at you if you are overly focused on the road.
Volvo’s Revolutionary Driver Monitoring
Volvo’s research indicates that normal driving involves focusing on the road about 80% of the time. According to Elsa Eugensson, a senior manager on Volvo’s Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) team, allowing your attention to wander while driving is completely natural and generally safe.
However, the system will alert you if you focus below 60% (indicative of distraction) or above 90% of the time on the road (indicative of cognitive distraction). Over-focusing often means you’re lost in thought, potentially zoning out despite eyes on the road.
Enhancing Driver Awareness
When a driver’s level of attention diverts from these ranges, the EX90 issues a wake-up call through escalating alerts. The first notification is a subtle nudge in the gauge cluster, intensifying if there’s no response. This approach may seem counterintuitive, but it is intended to prevent drivers from zoning out, especially when assisted by advanced systems like Volvo’s Pilot Assist, which controls throttle, braking, and steering.
The Importance of Cognitive Balance
The heightened importance of such monitoring systems comes from the convergence of multiple trends: diminishing attention spans, the omnipresence of smartphones, and continuous notifications. These factors have propelled distracted driving rates. Adding to this, safety features that alleviate driving burdens inadvertently make zoning out easy.
A Pioneering Solution
As technology advances, addressing these cognitive distractions becomes crucial to enhancing road safety. Volvo breaks new ground by tackling an issue most didn’t realize existed: drivers looking at the road but not really seeing it. This innovation represents a significant step in understanding and mitigating driver distraction.
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William Kouch, Editor of Automotive.fyi
