If the car finds the driver to be unresponsive for a certain amount of time, it can stop automatically within its current lane. This can, for example, help avert an accident if the driver suffers a medical emergency while driving.
The car initiates a controlled stop if the driver doesn't respond to requests to actively drive the car. These requests can come from the driver alert feature if the driver is unfocused or shows signs of being too inattentive to drive safely. They can also be related to the driver not keeping their hands on the steering wheel.
Tip
During the stopping manoeuvre, the car utilises all of the information it continuously collects about its surroundings to come to a controlled stop in the lane of the road you're on. It also activates the hazard warning lights to warn other drivers.
If the driver is available after the safe stop manoeuvre completes, the car should be moved to a safe spot where it does not pose a traffic hazard.
Warning
- Driving interventions such as performing a controlled emergency stop are supplements to safe driving practices. They do not reduce or replace the need for the driver to stay attentive and focused on driving safely.
- Do not intentionally trigger an emergency stop manoeuvre if it is not absolutely required for stopping safely.
Conditions and limitations
Your car's driver behaviour detection system constantly monitors the driver's actions. It relies on interior cameras to keep track of eye movement, attention, drowsiness and whether the driver's hands are on the steering wheel. Emergency stop assist uses information from this system to identify the driver's actions and decide when an emergency stop is necessary. It is therefore important not to try and trick the behaviour monitoring system, or cover the cameras.
By disabling distraction alert notifications, you prevent your car from making emergency stops based on input from the distraction alert system. This means that emergency stop assist will not intervene if the driver shows signs of tiredness or a lack of attention. However, ignoring warnings related to the driver not keeping their hands on the steering wheel can still lead to emergency stop interventions.
Emergency stop assist relies on information from radar and camera units to identify the car's surroundings and perform a safe stop. Read the separate sections about the conditions and limitations of your car's driver behaviour detection system, cameras and radars to understand how features relying on these kinds of detection are affected.
Important
Car faults
If emergency stop assist is unavailable due to a driver support system fault, a message telling you to book a service is shown in the driver display. Contact an authorised Volvo workshop if a fault is indicated in this way or another.
Car alterations
Modifications, repairs and accessory installations can negatively affect or limit driver support features. There is a separate manual section with detailed information on this topic.