Volvo has been on the cutting edge of car safety for decades. The Swedish automaker has pioneered some of the most innovative technology to keep the driver and passengers safe. Its next big advancement in active safety is to look outside the car and protect pedestrians as well -- in fact, it now offers airbags for pedestrians as well as those in the vehicle.

Volvo Pedestrian Detection system, which scans the road using sensors and a camera and automatically stops the vehicle when a person is in its path, debuted two years ago on the new S60. Now, Volvo is adding another layer of protection by introducing an airbag that inflates when sensors in the front bumper detect physical contact with a pedestrian. This causes a section of the hood to rise and a U-shaped airbag to inflate, covering about a third of the windshield and the bottom of the car’s A pillars and cushioning the blow for anyone unlucky enough to get hit and tossed onto the hood.

The all-new Volvo V40 was officially unveiled at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show this week. Volvo said it doesn’t intend to bring the 5-door 5-seater to the U.S.; it had been rumored to replace several aging models such as at S40 and V50. The V40 also features Pedestrian Detection and the City Safety technology, which automatically stops the vehicle from rear-ending another car in low-speed stop-and-go traffic. Other safety highlights of the V40 include Lane Keeping Aid with haptic auto steering, automatic Road Sign Information, Active High Beam technology and Park Assist Pilot Cross Traffic Alert.

Other automakers, including Mercedes-Benz, have shown safety concepts that take into account the safety of a pedestrian after being hit. But Volvo is the first to bring it to market -- even if that market doesn't yet include the U.S.

[Source: Gizmag]