Currently reading: Volvo XC60 to feature crash-preventing steering support system
New Audi Q5 rival will make its debut at the Geneva motor show with three new driver assist programmes

The Volvo XC60 will be revealed at the Geneva motor show with a new automatic steering assistance system that is claimed to significantly reduce the chances of an accident.

2017 Volvo XC60 review

The technology works with the car’s city safety automatic braking technology at speeds of 31-62mph, turning the wheels away from an impact when braking alone won’t prevent it.

In the case of a potential impact with an oncoming vehicle, the system can also steer the car back onto the correct side of the road. This part of the system works at speeds of 37-87mph.

C5dbznpwmaaxl b 0

Cars specced with an optional blind spot information system can use the technology to prevent potential impacts with cars that are unsighted by drivers. The active steering system can take control of the wheel to direct the car away from a vehicle before contact is made.

“In Sweden alone we have seen a decline of around 45% in rear-end frontal crashes thanks to our collision warning with auto brake system,” said Malin Ekholm, Volvo’s senior director at it safety centre. “With the XC60 we are determined to take the next step in reducing avoidable collisions with the addition of steering support and assistance systems.”

The new technology represents a step towards Volvo’s target for nobody to die in its new models from the year 2020.

Advertisement

Read our review

Car review

Volvo is justifiably proud of its different approach, and the usable, attractive XC60 is good enough to stand out in a very able compact SUV crowd

Join the debate

Comments
12
Add a comment…
MarkII 28 February 2017

As others have said, driving

As others have said, driving standards have fallen in the UK and there are also far too many imbeciles texting, applying make-up and generally not paying attention but the responsibility for safety start with the driver. You don't hear of airline pilots saying "oops I was distratced txting my girlfriend and accidentally clipped another 747"!! The more we encourage safety systems that effectively remove responsibility from the driver the less attention the driver will feel they need to pay - why bother, the car will sort it all out.. No, the best way to improve road safety would be more responsibility & accountability: mandatory training & retesting of drivers and a judicial system that had the b***s to hand down meaningful sentences to those who can't be bothered to drive with due care and attention.
Deputy 28 February 2017

@Markll - agree, but...

It's too complicated and costly for our Police and courts to prosecute someone who clipped you while driving and texting. Tricky to prove and needs actual investigation! Much, much easier to catch those AWFUL drivers doing 56MPH on an empty motorway at 3am past 50MPH average cameras. This lets the Police make money AND show statistics they are cracking down on terrible, terrible driving......
MarkII 2 March 2017

@Deputy - you've missed my point

Thanks for educating me on the limitations of the judicial system but if you had bothered to read my post properly you would see that never made any comment about someone clipping me, pleae re-read my post and you will see the context. I agree with you that the police and courts generally prosecute those cases that are more likely to be successful but that's not there fault as they are limited by tge letter of the law and funding available. Meaningful sentencing would actually require changes in legislation but I'm suggesting our society needs to send a stronger message to those who injure or kill as a result of traffic violations and equate death by dangerous driving with murder, as an act of premeditated choice (someone knowingly driving a vehicle so dangerously that serious injury or death of other road users was likely to occur). My objection to the semi autonomous automotive steering systems is that they will do nothing to improve the drivers control (in fact quite the opposite) and the availability of such systems might give certain drivers the impression that their level of responsibility for vehicle control is lessened - which will simply result in a more laissez faire attitude than they already have.
Straff 28 February 2017

Could be a good thing

I consider myself to be a good driver but the standard of driving generally in this Country is appalling. I took my rally car on a trailer and three times had idiots overtake on the inside, twice they were in my blind spot and one of the times I very nearly clipped someone doing it. I was rewarded with a blaring horn and gesticulation. What sort of cretin overtakes a van and trailer on the inside? Another one shot past me on a roundabout on my left side. My father always said that one of the reasons for crashes on ice and snow was that people were cocooned in the warmth of a modern car and were oblivious to the freezing temperatures outside the car; I can understand that. Getting rear ended by some tw*t sending a text is now a constant issue. Anything that stops people that refuse to concentrate on what they're doing or driving too fast because they are perpetually late is a good thing in my book, I'm afraid.
xxxx 28 February 2017

Thanks but no thanks

I'd be so nervous that a car can take over at any time, computers go wrong you know, and steer onto the pavement or oncoming traffic. I'd rather have a petrol 2.0 litre manual AWD or Sat Nav at a sensible level. Thank You
Deputy 28 February 2017

@xxxx - alternative

In the perfect world we'd all be 100% attentive and great drivers (like you and me and people who read this site!). Sadly people who care about driving are in a tiny minority. These systems are far more reliable than 99% of drivers who think cars are just a place to chat, do work, eat, selfies etc. I'd rather have a safety equipped Volvo driving behind me than a school run mum looking for somewhere to park as close as possible to school and not watching the road in front.....