NEW YORK: Time magazine has named Volvo’s "driver understanding system" in the EX90 SUV as one of its top inventions of 2024.
The technology, which is standard in Volvo’s all-electric flagship, uses real-time sensors to assess if a driver is impaired, tired, or distracted. This system can then start support actions if needed to enhance safety.
The driver understanding system operates by alerting a distracted driver with a gentle prompt, escalating to stronger notifications if necessary.
In critical situations, such as a driver falling asleep, the EX90 can automatically bring the car to a safe stop and activate hazard lights to alert other road users.
This recognition aligns with Volvo's legacy in automotive safety.
According to Volvo CEO Jim Rowan, the EX90 is “designed to be the safest Volvo car we have ever made,” continuing the brand’s commitment to advancing safety standards in each new model.
The company credits its innovations to decades of real-world research, a legacy that began with the introduction of the three-point safety belt in 1959 — a design Volvo offered freely, which is estimated to have saved over a million lives globally.
Volvo’s ambition with the EX90 is to move closer to a zero-collision future, where vehicles like the EX90 can continually improve through over-the-air updates.
This innovation aims not only to protect passengers but also to make daily travel more seamless, marking a new milestone in Volvo’s history of putting safety first.
