Its over 50 years Volvo trucks are safety testing every truck they manufacture. What had started as a workshop test 50 years ago was being adopted by Swedish as a law, a standard that every truck manufacturer uses. Every truck manufactured in the Europe under goes through Swedish Impact Test, which is based on tests by Volvo. This is also the reason Volvo around the world is known as the manufacturer of safest automobiles.
Every truck goes through three stage impact tests. When a truck meets with an accident its hit from the front or gets rolled. At Volvo test are based on real situation so that it gives best possible real time results.
A team from Volvo inspects real time truck accidents and makes a research report which consists, reason for mishap and its consequence. Accordingly tests are carried out at Volvo and ways are being calculated to make the cab strong enough to take the impact.
In early day’s truck cab were made out of wood. As traffic and automobile industry grew, the wooden made cab became unsafe. 1948 was the year when wood replaced with steel and Volvo was the first manufacturer to do so. Since then Volvo has concentrated solely on driver and passenger safety. First Volvo test was carried out in 1959 with a ton waving pendulum striking the cab. Immediately in the following year Sweden adopted the standards and remained into use till 2009 currently it has been replace with EU law. The newly adopted law is very different from the Swedish Impact Test.
Now let’s discuss the Tree Stage Impact Test
Volvo tests have continuously updated over the years. The tri stage test is still carried out, which was done 50 years back.
First, the cab roof is made to carry 15 ton, carrying a weight of 15 ton the cab is hit by a cylindrical pillar that strikes front left supporting pillar. Finally the one ton pendulum hits the rear wall of the cab which is released from the height of three meters.
These three stages are similar to real accident where the truck cab gets impact from three sides. First the truck drives off the road, then the truck rolls where the cab roof is impacted and then finally the truck stops hitting a tough object. This real accident is similar to the Volvo three stage tests.
Not every cab design passes through the test. There are some conditions for a cab to pass the test. The survival space that is the cab living space should have some space for the driver and the passenger to survive the impact. After the impact the cab must be in original shape if worst near to original shape. the after impact cab shouldn’t have sharp metal or large holes that could injure driver or rescuers. Lastly the doors must be in openable condition no matter how bad the impact. Opening of doors is of crucial importance as it’s the only source for the driver and the passenger to come out.
To conclude, no matter how rigorous tests the manufacturer undertakes nothing is worth if the driver doesn’t wears a belt. That’s why the three point belt is also Volvo’s invention.
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