Volvo Trucks have presented its contribution to increased traffic safety to Åsa Torstensson, Swedish Minister of Enterprise, Energy, and Communications and the national coalition for Vision Zero – a Swedish initiative that aims to reduce serious accidents on the road to zero by 2020.

After many years of studying traffic accidents, Volvo Trucks places fatigue and alcohol at the top of the agenda as statistics clearly indicate that these factors contribute to a great number of traffic accidents.

The Swedish national coalition for Vision Zero is headed by the Swedish government and the Swedish National Road Administration. The coalition includes some 40 companies and organisations who all contribute towards Vision Zero. At the meeting, Volvo Trucks presented its findings regarding fatigue and alcohol, and their impact on fatal traffic accidents.

”In addition to normal product development, Volvo Trucks is also very involved in general issues pertaining to traffic safety,” says Lennart Pilskog, Head of Public Affairs at Volvo Trucks. “We appreciate the opportunity of being able to take part in the national coalition for increased traffic safety. Together with other players and interested parties, we can reduce the number of fatalities in traffic.”

Volvo Trucks has worked with alco-locks since 2002. The company advocates the increased voluntary use of alco-locks and in 2005 was the first vehicle manufacturer in the world to offer them as a factory-fitted option.

Volvo Trucks also lists fatigue on the agenda as an important cause of traffic accidents. The research that Volvo has conducted shows that there are great similarities, but also differences, in how a tired driver and one who is under the influence of alcohol behave in traffic. Realistic tests have been conducted on Volvo’s test track and these tests are part of Volvo’s work to enhance systems that can be used to identify a tired driver.