Volvo Drops New Cars To Train First Responders In Occupant Recovery: Here Are All Details

The company has recreated several possible crash scenario and to simulate the forces that erupt in the most extreme crashes. New cars were dropped from a height of 30 metres, which will showcase beyond what can be simulated with ordinary crash testing.

Volvo considered all possible scenarios of a crash concerning the direction and recreated most of them to help first responders assess the situation. This includes rightful extraction of occupants involved in a crash using hydraulic rescue tools known in the industry as ‘jaws of life'.

Håkan Gustafson, a senior investigator with the Volvo Cars Traffic Accident Research Team, says, "We have been working closely together with the Swedish rescue services for many years. That is because we have the same goal: to have safer roads for all. We hope no one ever needs to experience the most severe accidents, but not all accidents can be avoided. So there must be methods to help save lives when the most severe accidents do happen."

He further added, "Normally we only crash cars in the laboratory, but this was the first time we dropped them from a crane. We knew we would see extreme deformations after the test, and we did this to give the rescue team a real challenge to work with."

Volvo dropped a total of ten models that belongs to various segments of size and shape. All models were dropped from the crane several times. Additionally, Volvo Cars safety engineers made exact calculations about how much pressure and force each car needed to be exposed to, to reach the desired level of damage.

According to the company, there is a vast difference between modern cars and those built fifteen to twenty years ago. As a result, the company insisted on testing with new cars to help first responders to get familiar with the construction of new cars to develop new extrication techniques.

The company will record all findings from the crashes and the resulting extrication work. It will be converted into an extensive research report, which will be made available free of use to rescue workers across the world.

Thoughts About Volvo Dropping Cars To Train First Responders

Volvo is known to produce some of the safest cars across the world. The brand has always emphasized on occupant safety with its products. However, Volvo has decided to take the safety initiative a notch. The company is now helping first responders in gaining experience to tackle any unfortunate scenarios on roads.