Findings from a nationwide analysis of insurance claims
Nationwide, United States
Volvo collision avoidance features: initial results
Summary Information
This study examined insurance claims associated with Volvo passenger vehicles equipped "with and without" steering responsive headlamp systems (Active Bending Lights) in the United States. The technology was designed to improve visibility and safety around curves by automatically adjusting headlight coverage toward the direction of travel up to a maximum of 15 degrees depending on vehicle speed, steering angle, and vehicle rotation (yaw).
Volvo made the system available to consumers as a factory option on 14 different model types between model years 2007-2010. Researchers estimated impacts on claims by comparing the insurance records of vehicles equipped with the system having 66,670 vehicle-years of exposure against the insurance records of similar unequipped vehicles having 517,429 vehicle-years of exposure.
- Although the difference in the frequency of "collision" claims was relatively minor between vehicles with and without the active bending headlight technology, the frequency of "property damage liability" claims for equipped vehicles decreased significantly, improving 9.0 percent compared to vehicles without the technology.
- Benefits were even more pronounced for "bodily injury liability" claims. The frequency of these claims decreased by 16.8 percent. Other types of injury coverage claims such as "medical payments" and "personal injury protection" were not significantly impacted.
