VW's suite of Proactive Safety Systems aims to save lives using technology
The NHTSA is working on developing new standards for safety systems in the United States and Volkswagen may lead the charge with its Proactive Safety System.
Pedestrian safety is one of the top struggles automakers face in the United States. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is working on new standards for safety systems regarding pedestrians, but those regulations are still a ways off. Over in Europe, however, Volkswagen’s new safety system aims to save the lives of both drivers and pedestrians through the use of advanced tech.
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Volkswagen’s Active Hood system automatically pops the hood
In a recent short video posted to YouTube, Volkswagen demonstrated how its Active Hood system works. In the video, a VW ID.7 is cruising down the road before having to brake to avoid hitting a pedestrian that was blocked from view by another vehicle. Just before impact, the ID.7’s hood pops up in an effort to lessen the impact on the pedestrian’s head. While hitting your head on a metal hood wouldn’t be an enjoyable experience, the bounce of the hood could help prevent significant injury.
The active hood system isn’t exclusive to Volkswagen though. The refreshed Tesla Model 3 comes equipped with a similar system, but drivers have to exit the vehicle to put the hood back into place after activation. So far, VW’s Active Hood is the only one that pops and retracts all on its own. The German automaker plans on bringing the system to the road in the near future, perhaps with the launch of the ID.7 next year.
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Volkswagen’s Proactive Occupant Protection system prepares for impacts
It’s clear the engineers and software developers (and anyone else who works on safety systems) at Volkswagen were determined to design for the worst with its latest round of safety systems. The second in the lineup, the Proactive Occupant Protection system, is designed to predict when a crash is incoming and prepare for impact.
In the short video posted to YouTube, Volkswagen showed the system in action using a fake vehicle driving at the side of an occupied SUV. As the fake vehicle approaches at a high speed, the Proactive Occupant Protection system automatically tightens the seatbelts and rolls the windows up. VW
Volkswagen’s Proactive Safety System can take the wheel if you pass out
Imagine passing out behind the wheel, whether it's due to low blood sugar, lack of sleep, or a medical emergency. That’s the exact scenario that Volkswagen’s Proactive Safety System (PSS) is designed to handle. Through a multitude of steps, PSS will attempt to wake the driver before pulling off to the side of the road on its own.
Once the system detects the driver is no longer in control, it will let out warning alerts before hard braking in extremely short bursts in an attempt to wake the driver. If the driver fails to respond, the car will automatically drive to the emergency lane, honk the horn to alert other drivers, and turn on its hazard lights. Once the vehicle comes to a complete stop, the doors will unlock to provide first responders access in the event of a medical emergency.
Final thoughts
Love or hate Volkswagen, there’s no denying the German automaker is looking to take the helm with its next generation of safety technology. While none of the systems shown are available yet, Volkswagen expects them to launch in the near future. Whether you have older or inexperienced drivers in the family, VW’s Proactive Safety System is an asset that can give you peace of mind. As a former first responder, VW gets a thumbs up from me.
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