Volvo wins Autocar Safety and Technology Award

Volvo’s advanced safety innovation, BLIS (Blind Spot Information System), the first system of its kind to be introduced to help avoid the risks of accidents caused by blind spots, has won the Safety and Technology Award at The Autocar Awards 2006.

BLIS uses an intelligent digital camera system incorporated into both door mirrors to constantly monitor the area alongside the car for other vehicles or motorbikes and, if it detects any, alerts the driver via an orange light housed in the car’s A-pillar by the door mirror.

Autocar editor, Charles Hallett, said: “The Volvo BLIS system is the simplest, most useful, original and intuitive safety gadget to reach the production line in years. Alongside its affordability that means owners will use it and benefit from it.”

Collecting the award, Ingrid Skogsmo, director of the Volvo Safety Centre, said: “Volvo believes that preventing accidents happening in the first place is as important as reducing the number of injuries and fatalities, and as the leading company in the field of car safety, Volvo will continue to actively develop new safety technology. Volvo first previewed the BLIS system in its Safety Concept Car in 2001, so we are now very pleased to see this technology in production.”

As Britain’s roads get ever busier, Volvo believes the additional visual information BLIS relays to the driver before changing lanes or overtaking in busy urban environments or on multi-lane highways, will prove particularly useful. Of course, BLIS does not relieve the driver of his or her obligation and responsibility to do the usual visual checks before attempting any manoeuvring, but does provide motorway users or city drivers an added level of protection against vehicles hovering in the periphery of the driver’s field of vision.

BLIS is now available on all the Volvo range, including the new C30 SportsCoupe, and costs between £450 and £600, depending on trim level.