Lighten Up Time

Poor take-up of Volvo Dynamic Steering has prompted an update that offers four optional features to boost its appeal. Does it enhance the driving experience?

Volvo Trucks has introduced a second generation of Volvo Dynamic Steering (VDS), which can be specified with four different driver support packages.

The original system, introduced in 2013, was designed to take the physical effort out of steering at low speed while improving directional stability when cruising. But despite the Claude van Damme Epic Splits promotional video going viral, sales of VDS did not, and the £2000 option is currently specified on just 7% of UK trucks.

Volvo hopes that a host of new optional features will boost its appeal, enhancing the driving experience and improving road safety.

VDS with Stability Assist

“Imagine that you are driving on a wet, slippery road and you suddenly notice that the rear of the truck is starting to lose its grip on the asphalt,” says Carl Johan Almqvist, traffic and product safety director at Volvo

Trucks. “Before this develops into a skid, you steer gently in the opposite direction until the danger is over.”

This is exactly what this system does, only, because it is linked to the ESP, it spots the dangers faster than any driver would, immediately correcting the steering to keep the truck out of trouble. The system, in development for five years, makes gentle steering corrections. Almqvist explains that these corrections are so subtle that there is no temptation for the driver to interfere. “If it were to make a sudden movement, we know the driver would fight it,” he says.

VDS with Lane Keeping Assist