Cryptic Message
Last week, after posting a short history of our seat belt, I received an e-mail from Sören, a man of very few words, always cryptic. His message was something like: “What, Clive and Mary.” And that was it. No clue what he was getting at.
I sent an equally sparse reply: ‘?’. And of course, nothing back from Sören. So around 4 a.m. this morning, as my brain was fertilizing itself with sleep, a couple of synaptic nerves connected. Clive Bengtsson and Whiplash Mary. Sören and Christer did this video about Volvo safety – one of the best we’ve every done. There’s lots of Sören tweaks in it, so pay attention. Sören is like me working an easy Sudoku puzzle: I’m out of eraser long before I get it.
Good week to you all.
dan
Posted in distracted driving, General, news, pedestrian safety, safety, seat belt, Volvo History | 2 Comments »A journey that started with a ‘Click’
On July 14, 2010, our simple life saving device, the three-point seat belt, will forever be a part of American history. The Smithsonian National Museum of American History will officially accept Volvo’s three-point seat belt into their collection. On that day, with a press event for media, business, government and Smithsonian officials, a little bit of Volvo will forever be a part of Washington, DC.
About 18 months ago we called the Smithsonian to ask if they were interested in acquiring our three-point seat belt for their collection. After all, 2009 would mark the 50th anniversary of this invention. Calling them was kind of like rolling dice and hoping you connect all the dots in one easy phone call. I should know that by now, nothing is ever easy. As luck would have it, the Museum was working on a collection of automotive safety “firsts” and our seatbelt would be a key acquisition for the collection. However, first we had to document and they had to verify that we were first. Then we had to prove it was fitted as described, and that it was standard in our cars. What we finally agreed upon was that after 1961 all our cars were fitted with that seat belt.
Originally we were just going to give them a seat belt but since the process took so long, we finally had a belt mounted to a mock-up PV 544 driver side seat with floor pan, seat attachments and ‘B’ pillar for auto shows. We couldn’t authenticate the seat or belt came from a 1961, which is what the Smithsonian needed, so we bought a ’61, took out the original equipment and mounted it on a display stand. The Smithsonian then back-tracked the original car to its previous owner, authenticated that it rolled out of the factory with standard-fitted three-point belts, and I thought we were good to go. I felt like I was watching CSI, they were so thorough in their background searching. Thanks to a long time friend and Volvo restorer, Alan Prosser (www.alanauto.com) who tracked down what we needed, got it packed and sent it down to our Rockleigh headquarters. It turned out that finding a good, original seat that’s 50-years old was a tougher task than I could have ever imagined.
For over a year, our display sat, packed, ready to ship, on our loading dock, right next to our trash compactor. Yeah, can you feel the fear I had, almost daily, that someone would consider it trash and we’d be back to first base. I thank the Swedish Viking gods for protecting it from our compactor.
Finally late last month we got the call to ship. The display was repacked, shrink wrapped and sent on its way with kisses from all of us.
I doubt that Nils Bolin would have ever thought his invention would save more than 1 million people’s lives and that it would become standard in all cars, mandated by law in 1972. Through the years, Nils has received many awards and accolades, but I think this one simple donation would stand out as his crowning achievement, aside from personal thanks from people whose lives were saved by his invention.
Today we like to say there is a little bit of Volvo in all cars.
This July, we will be heading to Washington to present our three-point seat belt to the Smithsonian, a very good day for Volvo.
Dan
Below is our two-point seat belt. I think we sold it just for couple of years. When I had my first Volvo, ’58 444, there were mounting holes for seat belts, sold as an accessory. I bought a set, installed them and my father refused to use it, and I refused to drive him anywhere.
Good video of our seat belt’s history: http://www.youtube.com/volvocarsnews#p/u/53/xQFrBX84RVY
Posted in Awards, customer care, distracted driving, news, pedestrian safety, Quality of Life, safety, seat belt, Volvo History | 2 Comments »Word Smithing 101
When Toyota announced their Star Safety System, we started to scratch our heads like, “Gosh, what makes that so special?” I put together lists of what Volvo had, when we had it, when it was fitted, to what models, if there were any markets we didn’t have something fitted … and it became overwhelming.
So I called Toyota’s customer service line to have them explain exactly what systems were installed and when. Seems that starting model year 2011 they will have things fitted across their model line, but not all cars right now. Interesting.
Trying to get that list going again, I asked Bruno in Regulations and Compliance if he could help. So he started his own list. About one week later, I learned that Mike in Product Planning was putting a list together, too. As easy as it seemed, it was impossible to pin it all down. We know in the last four to five years we already have everything that Toyota’s Star Safety System has, and in one form or another those systems have been in our cars for many years.
Much like we do today, our most advanced systems – like City Safety and the upcoming Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake – need progressively higher levels of electronics than prior generations. In fact, the XC60 has City Safety, yet it can not initially be fitted with Pedestrian Detection since its electronics are like version 9.00.01.01 and the S60 is 9.00.01.02 (made up numbers, but you get the idea).
So here’s what NY Times Blogger Dexter Ford said about Star Safety System:
“Toyota is the first full-line manufacturer to make the Star Safety System standard on all vehicles.”
Not certain what a “full-line” means. I guess if that means pick-up trucks, okay, you got us.
“Toyota Motor Sales is not aware of any Toyota patents on the five safety technologies, but we were innovative in combining these systems economically in non-luxury vehicles … ” states their advertising manager.
I wonder what luxury means? Guess that’s us. They never considered Volvo luxury in prior years. It’s good to know we’re now considered an upscale competitor to them, but we’re excluded from their definition of a car company that offers safety.
You know, safety isn’t a surface condition, it’s not something that is touted one year and dismissed the next. It is a constant target for improving quality of life for people in and around cars. Safety is not a marketing slogan, it’s not even a DNA issue. It’s more like an unseen bit of our Swedish soul. We’re very pleased that Toyota is finally adding safety to their cars that we have had in ours for years. Welcome to the party!
Dan
Posted in City Safety, customer care, distracted driving, news, pedestrian safety, Quality of Life, S60, safety, XC60, XC60 General | Comments OffWhat can we do to stop 6,000 deaths annually? Today Starts Teen Safety Driving Week.
Last year 6,205 people were involved in a teen driving accident…and they died. Yes we should feel sorry for those whose lives were cut short – think of those who might have been our leader to bring world peace, a doctor, scientist, or artist. Perhaps it is our fault for not putting more emphasis on teaching our children what is acceptable behavior when piloting 4,000 pounds of metal down our highways. Think what we, as citizens, would ask our government to do if 6,000 people died in plane crashes last year. I think that driving is the last responsibility we give our children; it is their final ticket to independence. We should make certain they truly understand how deadly this responsibility can be. Did you take sharp knives away from them when they were young?
The National Safety Council (NSC) names June “National Safety Month.” While every month should be about safety, this designation does encourage us to think a bit more about the steps we take to ensure we’re making safe choices at home, at the job and on the roads.
Specifically, NSC emphasizes “Teen Driving Safety” the week of June 7, and for good reason. Vehicle crashes are the leading causes of death and injury for U.S. teens between ages 15 and 19.
So Volvo is wondering: Have you had “the talk” with your teen? And, we don’t mean that “the talk” (which is none of our business). We mean the talk about driving safely (which is our business).
No texting.
No phone calls.
No drinking.
Always wear a seatbelt.
Stay focused on driving when friends are with you.
Their job is to drive with total concentration and respect for what is entrusted in them.
Teen driving safety is a talk that’s just as serious as the other talk. Have you had it? How did you present it to your child? Did you provide an ultimatum? How did they respond? Are there tips you can provide other parents? Please share below.
Posted in distracted driving, Quality of Life, safety | Comments OffTeens/Texting/Trying to Drive
Below is a good piece on teen driving and possible ways to avoid deadly situations. Thinking about what we’re all looking for is to give teens more time to understand the physics of driving. Most have absolutely no concept that they are hurtling along with 4,000 pounds of metal and they have only basic understanding of what could happen. I think, for the most part, driver education just lacks the other side of what is taught, what happens when you lose control while driving. The more time they have to learn this skill, the better their chances will be of avoiding an accident. Text Messaging is in their daily lives and to them, it is controllable and not a distraction, which, of course, is wrong….deadly wrong.
Question for the parents reading - have you had “the talk” with your teen drivers? Meaning, have you talked to them about how dangerous it is to text while driving? Please comment below.
Good week to you,
dan
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http://www.startribune.com/local/92593554.html?elr=KArksUUUoDEy3LGDiO7aiU
U of M researchers are hoping intervention technology will make teenagers better drivers. The Teen Driver Support System goes well beyond seat belts and cell phones.
By JENNA ROSS, Star Tribune
Last update: May 1, 2010 – 11:06 PM
Sitting atop the dashboard, she speaks in the same melodic, robotic voice as a GPS.
But this device tattles.
“Reduce speed now,” she says, her screen turning red. “Text message will be sent if speeding continues.”
It’s only a demonstration, but soon, technology developed at the University of Minnesota could keep an electronic eye on teen drivers.
If they speed? Mom and Dad get a text. Don’t fasten their seat belts? Car won’t shift into drive. Fill their car with friends? Parents find out within seconds.
The researchers believe that technology is one key to reining in rogue drivers and preventing the kinds of crashes that killed 11 people last weekend.
“We’d like to change teens’ behavior before they become the next statistics,” said Max Donath, director of the U’s Intelligent Transportation Systems Institute.
Devices exist that monitor speed or seat belts or cell phone use, but the U’s technology — called the Teen Driver Support System — goes well beyond that.
“It is the first holistic system to be built and tested by any university or private company,” said Michael Manser, director of the institute’s HumanFIRST Program.
This month, researchers will test-drive their latest model on parents and teens in Washington and Dakota counties, which have the state’s biggest numbers of teen driver fatalities.
“We want to make sure it’s usable,” Manser said. For example: “How often do parents really want to get text messages?”
Based on that feedback, the U will tweak the technology and later recruit families to use it for a few months. They hope that eventually, the technology will come with the car — or be offered as a low-cost add-on.
Smart phones and keys
The first prototype, developed in 2006 with some funding from the state and federal departments of transportation, was a complicated, clunky, computer-based device that had to be installed in a car.
Now, the sleek system is based, mainly, on a cell phone. Smart phones contain much of the technology needed: GPS, accelerometers, texting capabilities. Just add seat belt and passenger sensors and some intricate programming.
For example, a teen gets into the driver’s seat and inserts her personal key. The system uses that key to recognize her, a newly licensed driver. If she’s not allowed by law to have multiple passengers in her car, the system knows it and sends a warning her way.
“One unauthorized passenger,” her cell phone says. She puts the car into drive anyway. The system sends a text, including a date, time and this: “Unauthorized passenger detected. Road: University Avenue near 14th St.”
Texts are then gathered online and displayed in Google Maps, so the parent knows when and where problems occurred.
Parents still in driver’s seat
The technology will never replace parents, and the U researchers aren’t trying.
“We just make sure they get the text. The consequence is up to them — as it should be,” said Alec Gorjestani, a research fellow and the project’s technical lead.
But it does give parents more information about how risky — or how safe — their teen is on the road.
“Most parents give their kid the keys and pray nothing happens,” Manser said. “Now the parents can get a little insight into their teen’s driving behaviors.”
Jenna Ross • 612-673-7168
