Road safety in heavy transport takes a new technological step forward with the introduction of Safety Zones, the new digital service from Volvo Trucks that enables automatic speed limitation of commercial vehicles in predefined geographical areas. The system can create virtual zones where lorries operate with customised speed restrictions. The system is based on an automatic mechanism that intervenes directly on engine control when the vehicle enters a predefined area, ensuring compliance with speed limits established by the transport company.
"With this service, a transport company can ensure that the vehicle's speed is kept low. For example, in a port or logistics centre, or in areas with many people and moving traffic, such as busy urban centres and schools," explains Johan Rundberg, product manager at Volvo Trucks. The objective is to make the traffic environment safer and reduce driver stress, eliminating the risk of accidental speed limit violations.
Safety Zones offers granular control of transport operations, meaning fleet managers can define specific geographical zones through a digital map, configure customised speed limits starting from 20 kilometres per hour and manage up to 300 active zones for each commercial vehicle. The onboard telematics unit constantly transmits the vehicle's position and receives instructions set by fleet management.
When a lorry enters a controlled zone, the system intervenes automatically: if the vehicle is travelling at a speed higher than the established limit, it slows it down until it reaches the permitted speed, whilst during its stay in the area, acceleration beyond the limit is restricted by the engine. The driver receives constant notifications on the instrument display, maintaining full awareness of active limitations.
To ensure operational safety, the system allows the driver to temporarily override the speed limit by pressing the accelerator pedal in emergency situations. However, when using automatic speed control, they cannot set values higher than the zone limit. Fleet managers receive detailed notifications through the Volvo Connect portal every time a vehicle enters or exits a controlled zone, as well as alerts in case of speed limit violations.
Safety Zones fits into the Volvo Connect digital ecosystem, the platform that centralises all the Swedish manufacturer's digital services. The service, available on a subscription basis, requires the Volvo Connect Positioning service as a prerequisite and offers advanced control functionalities. The new service is compatible with Volvo FH, FM and FMX Euro VI vehicles and with the entire electric drivetrain range, including the new Volvo FM Low Entry, an electric-powered lorry designed for city traffic. Availability is scheduled for June 2025 on new vehicles and for September of the same year on vehicles already in circulation produced after autumn 2022.
