Volvo Buses has been named the winner of the Swedish Traffic Safety Award 2010. “Stora Trafiksäkerhetspriset” the Swedish Traffic Safety Award, is a prestigious prize that is arranged by a number of Swedish trade magazines, including Trafikforum, Resforum, Logistik idag and Transport idag that reports on bus traffic, transport and logistics.

The prize’s main partner is the Swedish Motor Vehicle Inspection Company.The prize is divided into three categories and Volvo Buses received the award in the category for companies that actively work to develop products and services for passenger traffic and/or freight transportation on roads, where traffic safety is of the utmost importance. In its commendation, the jury said that Volvo Buses were awarded the prize for developing an alcolock that was specially adapted to the requirements of the bus sector, such as enabling the rapid change-over of drivers out in services.

Volvo Buses was first to launch a reinforced front on their buses to protect the driver and guide in the event of a collision and a Frontal Under-run Protection System (FUPS) to prevent cars from becoming wedged under the bus in conjunction with a collision. They also developed a system which enables the engine to be started without the need for a breath test, but the brakes remain locked if the driver fails the test.

Volvo Buses’ safety manager Ulf Gustafsson received the prize under ceremonious forms at the Transportforum conference in Linköping. “It is highly gratifying to receive such recognition for our prolonged efforts to enhance safety in our buses,” he says. Volvo Buses has regarded safety as one of its core values since the inception of the company in 1927 and has launched a long line of innovations in the safety area through the years.

Source: FinChannel