A NEW Volvo safety system was praised following a demonstration of technology that can limit or prevent low-speed accidents.

The Volvo City Safety system will be a standard feature on the new Volvo XC60.

Thomas Broberg, technical advisor at Volvo Cars' Safety Centre, said: "We were contacted by Thatcham, who offered to arrange a demonstration of the system. It is naturally extremely gratifying for us when a third party confirms the great potential of the City Safety function." Auto-braking systems from two other manufacturers were also presented, but it was Volvo City Safety that made the greatest impression on both organisers and observers.

Matthew Avery, head of research at Thatcham, said: "All three systems offer increased protection and Volvo's system in particular impressed everyone with its autonomous function and because it intervenes at the last possible instant and can completely avoid a collision." He added: "The system will have a great effect on the number of low-speed collisions."

Seventy-five per cent of all collisions occur at speeds of 20mph or lower. Volvo City Safety is a system that has been developed in-house to provide automatic braking at speeds under 20mph and will be standard on the Volvo XC60.

Together with Collision Warning with Autobrake, which will be available as an option, City Safety means that Volvo offers an auto-brake function at all speeds.

Volvo is talking to insurance firms in Europe, Canada and the US about offering lower premiums on cars fitted with the system.