VOLVO SCOOPS 2012 ACFO FLEET AWARDS' ‘FLEET SAFETY INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR’

VOLVO SCOOPS 2012 ACFO FLEET AWARDS' ‘FLEET SAFETY INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR' 

• Volvo V40 ‘Pedestrian Airbag Technology' wins award ahead of stiff competition
• Award is voted for by ACFO members based on their experiences and preferences
• Volvo's standard fit City Safety technology also helps reduce insurance rating

Volvo has won the coveted Fleet Safety Initiative of the Year award at the 29^th Association of Car Fleet Operators (ACFO) awards.  Beating off intense competition from rival manufacturers, the Volvo Pedestrian Airbag came out on top to win the award voted for exclusively by ACFO members.

Pedestrian Airbag Technology is a standard feature on the all-new Volvo V40 and it is this ground-breaking casualty reducing technology that ACFO members recognised in making their award decision.

The technology works by means of seven sensors embedded in the front of the car transmitting signals to a control unit. If the sensors in the front bumper register the physical contact between the car and a pedestrian, the rear end of the bonnet is released and at the same time elevated by the deploying airbag.  In its inflated position, the airbag covers the entire windscreen wiper recess, about one-third of the windscreen and the lower part of the A-pillars. The entire sequence from activation of the system to full inflation takes a few hundredths of a second. 

Earlier in 2012, Pedestrian Airbag Technology debuted on the new Volvo V40 and helped to post the highest ever European New Car Assessment Programme (EuroNCAP) crash test result. 

Pedestrian Airbag Technology is not the only system fitted as standard on the new V40.  City Safety technology is Volvo's version of Autonomous Emergency Braking and its low-speed collision avoidance system was deemed so effective by the Association of British Insurers that the new V40 range is now two to three groups lower under the new criteria.

Attending to accept the award before 250 ACFO members and guests was James Shires, national corporate sales operations manager at Volvo Car UK who said: "We're delighted to accept this award that is exclusively voted for by fleet operators. 

"Volvo is committed to protecting driver, passenger and pedestrian safety and we are thrilled our world first Pedestrian Airbag Technology has been recognised publicly by ACFO.  With this award recognising Pedestrian Airbag Technology and City Safety reducing insurance premiums, Volvo is delivering class-leading safety solutions," he added.

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