Bangkok--26 Aug--Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide Road accidents especially in urban areas are responsible for approximately 1.2 million fatalities and 50 to 60 million injuries each year worldwide. These figures have been increasing and today road accidents are the third highest cause of death in the world. Research and development department of every car company, therefore, has tried very hard to invent new technology to protect each passenger in the car and help lessen those figures. When it comes to safety, the first car company anyone is thinking of is “Volvo”. Recently, after Volvo announced an aim that by 2020 no one should be killed or injured in a Volvo, the company has unveiled the latest “City Safety” technology which garnered several awards in world car industry. The City Safety which is a world-first standard feature in the new Volvo XC60 has won the Technology category at the “Fleet World Honours Awards 2008” in London and received the American “Traffic Safety Achievement Award” at this year’s World Traffic Safety Symposium held at the New York International Auto Show. Volvo developed this technology to helps avoid or reduce the severity of low-speed collisions. At speeds of under 19mph (30 km/h), City Safety uses laser sensor technology to detect vehicles up to 10 metres in front of the car's front bumper and reacts to vehicles in front that are either at a standstill or are moving slowly in the same direction as the car itself. If the gap between the cars continues to close and the driver remains inactive, the car applies the brakes automatically. This innovative feature allows Volvo to say it is the first car company that produces “the first car that stops traffic”. And at speeds less than 15 km/h, we can say that City Safety can entirely avoid accidents while at speeds between 17-30 km/h, the system applies brake force to reduce vehicle speed and help reduce occupant injuries and vehicles damage. The inspiration behind a brand that has 80-year long heritage on safety like Volvo to come up with a new technology that would help lessen road accidents in urban areas is a survey indicating that 75% of all reported collisions take place at speeds of under 30 km/h. And in 50% of these cases the driver has not braked at all before the collision. So to speak, it is easy to see the potential City Safety has in reducing incidents of this kind. City Safety's potential for reducing the risk of both personal injuries and car bodywork damage is significant and may also cut insurance costs, as Volvo Car UK is currently involved in a dialogue with insurance companies regarding lower insurance premiums in UK for cars equipped with City Safety. In Thailand, we hope the City Safety will become a standard feature in Volvo car soon. Information: Volvo Car Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ford Motor Company and is headquartered in Gothenburg Sweden. Volvo Cars has been present in Thailand since 1962, firstly through an independent importer/distributor, and then through a wholly owned National Sales Company, Volvo Car (Thailand) Ltd., since 1971, taking over distribution from SMC in 1999. VCT now employs some 33 people. A local assembly (CKD) factory, Thai Swedish Assemblies (TSA) was established in 1976 and today builds the globally successful Volvo XC90, All-New Volvo S80, Volvo S60 and Volvo V70 models in Thailand, employing some 300 people. Volvo Cars also offer the spectacular all-new Volvo C70 retractable hard-top coupe/convertible sports car and the new Volvo C30 three-door sports hatch/coupe as a fully imported products. Volvo is represented in retailing by 8 authorised dealers operating 12 outlets, nationwide. Six in the Bangkok metropolitan area and six in up-country locations as follows, Wearnes (with locations in Hua Mark and Lad Phrao), SMC Motors (with locations in Sukhumvit 22 and Silom and Chon Buri); Gothenburg Automobiles, Srinakarin; Scandinavian Auto, Ramindra; and Chiang Mai Sweden Motor, Chiang Mai; Khon Kaen CharoenSri, Khon Kaen; Nakornpathom Motor, Nakornpathom; Hat Yai Auto; Hat Yai and Phuket Volvo on Koh Phuket. For more information on Volvo Cars' products and services, please refer to www.volvocars.co.th, or contact your nearest authorised dealer. For free video content please go to www.media.volvocars.com and click on 'Broadcast Room' to preview and request video. If you haven’t already used this site, please take a moment to register. Once your registration is approved, you can order broadcast-standard video digitally or by tape. Registration and video is free to the media. Contacts: Khun Waralee Bunnag Senior Communications Manager Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide Tel: +66-2-205-6627 Mobile: +66-81-643-1117 Email: [email protected] Khun Jintana Duangkaew Business Director Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide Tel: +66-2-205-6653 Mobile: +66-81-673-8889 Fax: +66-2-205-6686 Email: [email protected] Khun Chantana Vatanaromya Vice President, Marketing Volvo Car (Thailand) Ltd. Tel: +66-2-319-9820 Fax: +66-2-719-9451 Email: [email protected] Khun Nuttha Jittrakorn Marketing Administrative Officer Volvo Car (Thailand) Ltd. Tel: +66-2-319-9820 Fax: +66-2-719-9451 Email: [email protected]