EX30 has no collision warning - ask me how I know

[matthew1]

Yesterday I snapped a photo of this pretty powder blue EX30 here in Denver on University Blvd, and not 15 seconds later it merrily moves to the right doing a lane change. If I hadn't braked its rear right and my front left bumpers would have impacted.

I'm not saying I was under the impression that the EX30 has a feature that would warn the driver of this type of thing, but I'm aware of Volvos having cross traffic alert functionality for some time, maybe for 10 years as optional equipment? Is it crazy for me to think this lane change scenario should/does have a warning feature? Wouldn't that be a First Principle of Volvo safety design in this era? Am I on crazy pills?

Or maybe the EX30 does have this and the driver ignored it? I don't know which is worse.

After the near collision I moved into the left lane to get an "I'm sorry" from the driver, and also because I needed to make a left in a mile, but there was nothing, just looking straight ahead, not a care in the world. I didn't go screaming around the Volvo or roll down my window, that's not me, but an apology wave would have been nice.

What's worse than not getting acknowledged is this thought: the driver might not have even known they almost caused an accident.

This is why I'm horrified about the glass shrinkage over the last 3 decades. Nobody can see out of cars. It's called "high belt line" in auto design. Extrapolating... by 2050 there will simply be no glass at all.

IMG_2098 (1).jpeg (220.47 KiB) Viewed 12358 times

[Vova585]

Glad to hear that you were able to avoid collision. In regards to Volvo packages, I am quite a hater myself. When we were looking for xc60r platinum for my mother and later wife, we run across many cars with heated this and heated that, sensor this and sensor that...but no BLIS!!!! I could not believe at first. You are putting platinum in description and not including the 2nd best safety feature into the car(rear camera being the 1st in my book, d/t the times, we will skip seatbelt and airbags).

[matthew1]

Ah thanks @Vova585. BLIS is the tech. https://www.volvocars.com/us/media/vide ... e0064e70e/

2013 (or earlier)

According to this, it's standard on EX30 models: https://www.volvocars.com/mt/support/ca ... 870d1a409/

It's just the light in the side mirror, from what I gather not a dash display or audible alarm.

So my title to this thread is incorrect (but I'll leave it), but with D pillars/adjacent glass thick and opaque enough to support a corner of the Parthenon (look at my photo!), shouldn't this have alarms in 85 languages at 200db and flashing red warning lights everywhere? Not just a small yellow indicator in the mirror?

[Vova585]

I would say that it is likely operator error in this case. Possibly ev driving is so soothing that people are half asleep(never drove one yet, closest I come-our 2010 prius). That light is pretty good warning indicator. In regards to other "sound effects" i think 2016 escalade that we ended up with renting in Colorado had seat vibration turning on. if you were about to ignore BLIS.
I guess that owner has no idea how lucky they were to encounter you on the road and that your love for volvo saved them a lot of time and money.

[BlackBart]

I’m leaning towards stoopid driver ignoring the warning. Maybe a podcast plugged into their ears.

Outbacks had this years ago.

[JeraldJ]

Yesterday I snapped a photo of this pretty powder blue EX30 here in Denver on University Blvd, and not 15 seconds later it merrily moves to the right doing a lane change. If I hadn't braked its rear right and my front left bumpers would have impacted.

I'm not saying I was under the impression that the EX30 has a feature that would warn the driver of this type of thing, but I'm aware of Volvos having cross traffic alert functionality for some time, maybe for 10 years as optional equipment? Is it crazy for me to think this lane change scenario should/does have a warning feature? Wouldn't that be a First Principle of Volvo safety design in this era? Am I on crazy pills?

Or maybe the EX30 does have this and the driver ignored it? I don't know which is worse.

After the near collision I moved into the left lane to get an "I'm sorry" from the driver, and also because I needed to make a left in a mile, but there was nothing, just looking straight ahead, not a care in the world. I didn't go screaming around the Volvo or roll down my window, that's not me, but an apology wave would have been nice.

What's worse than not getting acknowledged is this thought: the driver might not have even known they almost caused an accident.

This is why I'm horrified about the glass shrinkage over the last 3 decades. Nobody can see out of cars. It's called "high belt line" in auto design. Extrapolating... by 2050 there will simply be no glass at all.



IMG_2098 (1).jpeg

I think the frustration is understandable, but I wouldn’t put all of this on the car’s safety systems. Modern Volvos have a lot of driver assistance features, but they’re not designed to replace checking mirrors and blind spots.

The EX30 does have systems like blind spot monitoring and rear collision/lane change related assistance depending on the market and trim, but these features usually act as a warning or an extra layer of protection. They may not always prevent a lane change, especially if the driver ignores the alert or if the system doesn’t detect the situation as a direct threat.

The bigger issue is exactly what you mentioned at the end: driver awareness. Sensors and cameras can help, but a distracted driver who isn’t checking mirrors or surroundings is still a major risk. Even the best safety technology is meant to assist a careful driver, not compensate for someone not paying attention.

[BlackBart]

Many people don't look in their mirrors, they don't read the owner's manual to learn what all the beeping and flashing mirror warnings are about, or they're are just plain unaware and un-intellingent. Or podcasts at full volume - they're lost in their romance novel.

The other point - why will we need any windows and visibility, they will be a cocoon that drives you to work or the shops, why would you need to check lane clearance? Like your own private bus.........hundreds of thousands of private busses fighting for the same lane and the same parking garage. Bigger freeways, more lanes.

Which brings me full circle to the simplicity (in urban areas) of good public transportation. Smaller, quiet electric busses (or trams) with nice seats, big windows, wifi. It drops you off a block from where you're going, it costs you a dollar (Pound) or nothing at all if your city works out bond issues and financing. I live in a small city and the busses are electric and they are free. That is because of federal transportation grants. They don't go everywhere, no.

[abscate]

I still laugh at myself for the time I went the concierge at a Bristol UK hotel and asked for the bus schedule. She had no idea of what I was talking about. I wanted to make sure I got Bus > Train > London > Subway > AIrport > PLane home

I walked down to the Bus Stop, 50 meters, and found the Busses come every 5 minutes starting at 0500. You dont need a schedule when public transport is done right.

[volvolugnut]

I still laugh at myself for the time I went the concierge at a Bristol UK hotel and asked for the bus schedule. She had no idea of what I was talking about. I wanted to make sure I got Bus > Train > London > Subway > AIrport > PLane home

I walked down to the Bus Stop, 50 meters, and found the Busses come every 5 minutes starting at 0500. You dont need a schedule when public transport is done right.

In my little town we would be glad to have any public transit after 5 PM.
volvolugnut

[BlackBart]

I learned that in my small city there's a free bus into downtown from the airport every hour. It's only 7 miles across the valley, but people panic if they don't have a ride, scramble for an OOber. Now at midnight, I don't think so....