Volvo promotes cycle safety with Greater Manchester Police

Volvo Car UK has teamed up with Greater Manchester Police (GMP) to help publicise their cycling safety campaign Operation Grimaldi.

A Volvo V40 that is fitted with the manufacturer’s cyclist detection system has been loaned to GMP for three months.

The vehicle, liveried with magnetic signs to highlight road safety, will be used to help enforce Operation Grimaldi, designed to reduce the number of cyclists involved in collisions and to encourage cyclists and drivers to safely share the road.

The car will be driven around Greater Manchester by Police Community Support Officers who are looking to educate people about how to use the roads safely.

As part of the loan, officers will also be educating cyclists on Volvo’s Cyclist Detection system, which ensures their continued safety on the road.

The cyclist detection sensor system operates by scanning the area ahead of the car. If a cyclist heading in the same direction as the car suddenly swerves out in front of the car and a collision is imminent, there’s an instant warning and full braking power is applied.

The chief benefit will be protecting cyclists on the road, and the new technology caught the attention of the GMP who identified that it will likely have its largest impact in busy inner city areas like Manchester.

Operation Grimaldi has seen fixed penalties issued to cyclists around Greater Manchester for offences such as running red lights, not having lights fitted, cycling on footpaths and using mobile phones whilst cycling have all resulted in a road safety awareness course or a £60 fine.

Selwyn Cooper, Volvo Car UK national corporate operations manage, said: “We’re delighted to be working alongside such a prestigious organisation like the GMP and supporting the public services.

“It’s great that fleets are beginning to realise the importance of safety technology, and we’re delighted that our award-winning cyclist detection system is now protecting road users across the city and raising public awareness about cyclist safety.

“The technology is an integral part of our Vision 2020 that nobody will be killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo by 2020.”

Greater Manchester Police assistant chief constable Ian Wiggett added: “We’re very pleased to be collaborating with Volvo as we work together to help engage cyclists in Operation Grimaldi.

“The cyclist detection system is a fantastic piece of safety technology and we look forward to using it to educate road users over the coming months.”