Top 5 safety features on a Volkswagen Polo

By Farzana Chaumoo

A list of some of the important safety features that can be found in the Volkswagen Polo.

 

1. Blind Spot Monitor

This system plays a role in preventing serious accidents. Through an LED symbol on the side mirrors, the system monitors cars approaching from the rear and sitting on the side and lights up to bring attention to the driver. If the driver activates the turn indicator in the direction of the detected vehicle, the system will flash an additional warning to lower the risk of hazardous lane-changing situations. The system, which is automatically activated from a speed of 30 km/h, uses radar sensors to monitor an area of approximately 20 metres around the vehicle. When the Blind Spot Monitor is ordered, it automatically comes with Rear Traffic Alert, which revolutionises reversing out of parking spaces.

 

2. Rear Traffic Alert

Rear Traffic Alert improves safety and is offered in combination with the Blind Spot Monitor system. Rear Traffic Alert takes much of the risk out of reversing from driveways and parking spaces that are at right angles to the road. The system not only ‘recognises' stationary or moving vehicles directly behind the Polo, but also vehicles approaching from the side which are barely visible to the driver. The radar-based sensor module even detects objects at distances of up to 40 metres and recognises objects moving at speeds of 4 km/h or above. If a collision is imminent, the system outputs an acoustic warning. If the driver or third party does not take action to correct the situation, or if there is a risk of immediate collision, the Rear Traffic Alert system automatically initiates a brake intervention.

 

3. Driver Alert System

Standard on the Polo Comfortline, this system detects the waning concentration of the driver and warns him or her over a period of five seconds with an acoustic signal and a visual text in the instrument cluster that recommends taking a break. If the driver does not take a break within the next 15 minutes, the warning is repeated once.

 

4. Multi-Collision Braking (Automatic Post-Collision Braking System)

Just around a quarter of all accidents that result in personal injury involve multiple collisions. The Polo's Automatic Post-Collision Braking System can help to avoid secondary collisions or at least reduce their severity. After an initial collision, the Automatic Post-Collision Braking System automatically initiates a braking action – within system limits – even before the driver can react. This can reduce the severity of the accident and ideally prevent secondary collisions.

 

5. Park Assist

This assistance system automatically guides the Polo into parallel or perpendicular parking spaces, and it can also reverse out of parallel parking spaces. It is activated by pressing a button on the centre console. Using the indicators, the driver selects the side on which the car is to be parked. If Park Assist detects, via the ultrasonic sensors, a parking space that is large enough (40 cm of manoeuvring room, front and rear suffices), assisted parking can begin: the driver engages reverse gear and only needs to accelerate and brake (an automatic braking function assists in the event of insufficient space). The car takes care of the steering.