Volvo Trucks Australia has released shocking video footage from inside the cab of a truck involved in a high-impact collision, urging drivers to put safety first
The footage was recorded from inside the cab of a Volvo FH16 truck traveling at 85km/h at night in remote Australia.
The truck is hit by the fourth trailer from an oncoming road train, which had come loose and made its way into the other lane.
Despite the ferocity of the impact the driver was lucky enough to walk away unharmed, testament to the safety systems onboard.
Volvo explains the FH16 undergoes the most rigorous cab crash safety tests in the world – the Swedish Cab Test.
The FH has a number of safety features, including the seat belt, seat belt pre-tensioner, Volvo cabin crumple zones, energy-absorbing design and driver’s airbag.
Vice President of Volvo Trucks Australia Tony O’Connell explains the reason for releasing the video is to highlight the importance of safety.
“The value of this video is that it shows how quickly an everyday drive can turn into an accident, through no fault of the driver,” he says.
“Safety is at the heart of everything Volvo does and a number of design features combined to ensure the driver was protected and walked away without suffering injury or worse.
“The critical life-saving safety feature in this collision was the three-point seat belt, without which the outcome for the driver would likely have been quite different.”
By wearing his seat belt, the driver of the Volvo truck was kept in position while all of the vehicle’s other safety features engaged around him.
“Too many non-belted truck drivers lose their lives needlessly,” O’Connell says.
“Our research shows that 50% of non-belted truck occupants killed in accidents would have survived if their seat belts had been properly used.
“We urge all road users – truck and car drivers and passengers of coaches fitted with seat belts – to please use them.
“Put your safety first, put on your seat belt.”
The three-point seat belt was invented and patented by Volvo in 1959. The patent was left open, so other automobile manufacturers could adopt this life saving passive safety feature.