Volvo Teases First-Of-Kind Interior System Ensuring No One Is Forgotten In Cars

Volvo, the automaker behind many key automotive safety features, including the three-point seatbelt which it first introduced in 1959, has yet again made progress when it comes to keeping our vehicles safer. 

Now, with the world’s first car interior radar system, the brand will allow drivers to monitor both the cabin and trunk of a vehicle to ensure no child or pet has been left behind. The technology will debut in Volvo’s upcoming EX90 electric SUV.

Sensitive enough to detect even the tiniest movements—such as the breathing of a sleeping toddler—the system hopes to provide a solution for preventable accidents.

In fact, according to the brand, the US government reported that since 1998, over 900 children in the country have died after being forgotten in hot cars. Using this new technology, Volvo wants to ensure such mistakes never happen again. 

To cover as much of the cabin as possible, and not to miss out any spots where a small child or pet may be hiding, the automaker chose to space out the radars throughout the car from front to back, including the rear trunk should someone be trapped inside. 

Drivers will receive notifications when locking the car if the vehicle senses someone has been left inside, with the system giving the entire car a once-over to determine if it’s empty before allowing it to be locked. 

In addition, drivers can choose to keep the car’s climate system on if there are passengers left in the cabin, to help lower the risk of hypothermia in winter or heatstroke in summer months. 

“No one chooses to be distracted or tired, but we know it can happen. We’re all human and distraction is a fact of life,” remarked Lotta Jakobsson, Senior Technical Specialist in Injury Prevention. 

“With the help of cutting-edge technology, we’ll support you when you’re not at your best and help you avoid leaving family members or pets behind by accident.” 

[via Engadget and Volvo, cover image via Reno12 | Dreamstime.com]