City Safety - Operation. City Safety - Limitations

City Safety in the Volvo S80 (2nd generation, 2013–2016) supports the driver with automatic braking at low speeds to help avoid collisions. This section describes activation, deactivation and everyday use. Particular attention is given to system limitations and the driver's responsibility. Information on operation via the menu system is also provided.

City Safety - Operation

City Safety is a function that helps the driver avoid a collision, for example when driving in traffic jams, where changes in the traffic ahead combined with inattention can lead to an accident.

On and Off

City Safety is automatically activated when the engine is started.

In certain situations it may be desirable to switch City Safety off, for example when leafy branches and twigs may brush against the hood and/or windshield.

City Safety is operated via the MY CAR menu system and can be deactivated after the engine is started as follows:

• Open Driver Support in MY CAR and select the Off option for City Safety.

  However, the function will be active again the next time the engine is started, even if the system was switched off when the engine was stopped.

The laser sensor continues to emit laser light even when City Safety is switched off manually.

Related information

• City Safety
• City Safety - Limitations
• City Safety - Function
• City Safety - Laser sensor
• City Safety - Symbols and messages
• MY CAR

City Safety - Limitations

The City Safety sensor is designed to detect vehicles and other larger motor vehicles ahead of the vehicle, and it operates regardless of whether it is day or night.

However, the function has certain limitations.

Due to the limited sensor capability, City Safety works less effectively or not at all in heavy snowfall or rain, dense fog, heavy dust, or blowing snow.

Fogging, dirt, ice or snow on the windshield can also interfere with the function.

Hanging objects, such as flags or pennants from cargo or accessories extending rearward from the vehicle, or accessories such as auxiliary lighting and bull bars that extend above the height of the hood, will restrict the function.

The laser light of the City Safety sensor measures how the light is reflected. The sensor cannot detect objects with low reflectivity.

The rear of the vehicle generally reflects light sufficiently strongly due to its license plate and taillight reflectors.

On slippery road surfaces, the braking distance increases, which can reduce the ability of City Safety to prevent a collision.

In such situations, the ABS14 and ESC15 systems provide the best possible braking force while maintaining stability.

When your own vehicle is reversing, City Safety is temporarily deactivated.

Since City Safety is not activated at low speeds below 4 km/h, the system does not intervene in situations where the vehicle is approaching a vehicle ahead very slowly, for example when parking.

Since the driver's commands always have the highest priority, City Safety does not intervene in situations where the driver steers or accelerates very clearly, even if a collision is unavoidable.

If City Safety has prevented a collision with a stationary object, the vehicle remains stopped for a maximum of 1.5 seconds. If the vehicle was braked because of a vehicle ahead, the speed is reduced to the speed of the vehicle ahead.

On vehicles with manual transmission, the engine stalls if City Safety has stopped the vehicle and the driver has not pressed the clutch pedal beforehand.

14 (Anti-lock Braking System) - Anti-lock braking system.

15 (Electronic Stability Control) - Stability control.

• Keep the windshield in front of the laser sensor free of ice, snow and dirt (see illustration for sensor position)
• Do not attach or mount any objects to the windshield in front of the laser sensor.
• Remove ice and snow from the hood. The layer of snow and ice must not exceed a height of 5 cm.

Troubleshooting and action

If the message Windshield sensors obstructed. See manual is shown in the instrument cluster, the laser sensor is blocked and cannot detect vehicles ahead. This in turn means that City Safety will not function.

However, the message Windshield sensors obstructed. See manual is not displayed in all situations in which the laser sensor is blocked. The driver must therefore keep the windshield and the area in front of the laser sensor carefully clean.

The following table lists possible causes for the message being displayed, along with suggested appropriate actions.

If a crack, scratch or stone chip appears on the windshield in front of either of the two "windows" of the laser sensor and extends over an area of approx. 0.5 × 3.0 mm (or more), the windshield must be replaced at a workshop (see illustration for sensor position). A Volvo Authorized Workshop is recommended.

Failure to take these measures may result in reduced performance of City Safety.

To avoid the risk of City Safety failing, malfunctioning or operating with restrictions, the following also applies:

• Volvo recommends not repairing cracks, scratches or stone chip damage in the area in front of the laser sensor. Instead, the entire windshield should be replaced.
• Before replacing the windshield, contact a Volvo Authorized Workshop to ensure that the correct windshield is ordered and installed.
• When replacing, windshield wipers of the same type or other windshield wipers approved by Volvo must be fitted.

Related information

• City Safety
• City Safety - Function
• City Safety - Operation

City Safety in the Volvo S80 (2nd generation) is an automatic emergency braking function that works mainly in city traffic at low speeds. It helps to avoid rear-end collisions or reduce the severity of a collision. The function is activated when the engine is started, but it can be deactivated if required.

City Safety works with a laser sensor that detects vehicles ahead of the car. Nevertheless, drivers should not rely solely on the system, but should remain attentive and drive actively.

Volvo offers here a safety system that sensibly combines technology and driver responsibility.