IN THE DRIVING SEAT
The latest test drive from GH Motoring Editor Ginny Buckley, winter driving tips and new car news
UUp to 11 million motorists have been involved in a collision either because they weren't looking at the road or because they didn't check their blind spot, according to Direct Line. The latest car safety technologies aim to tackle driver distraction. So we trialled Volvo's newest family friendly SW, the XC60, billed as its safest car to date. Volvo, which has a long history when it comes to safety, has pledged that by 2020 nobody should be seriously injured or killed in one of its new cars. It's packed with safety tech, including a system that watches for objects in your way and that will automatically brake or add extra steering input in an emergency to help you avoid an impact. Another system senses if you wander out of your lane before steering ellte-- you back into place, a while the dangers of
the blind spot are reduced, thanks to more technology that steers you away from vehicles you may not have seen. Despite all these safety systems at work, you always feel in control of the car, and it's comforting to know they act as an extra driver keeping an eye on the road. The XC6o is stylish, too. Long gone are the days when a Volvo resembled a box on wheels - this is a cool, good-looking car. The interior is elegant and spacious, but moving child seats can be a struggle as the rear doors don't open very wide. You'll find it smooth and easy to drive, with excellent visibility and a good range of engines, but all this comes at a price - the XC6o starts at cq7.295.