Agreed. This feels like a sticking plaster when Volvo could do so much more to help safety. Like with the design of their vehicles.
These Volvo SUVs (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volvo_XC90) are very popular where I live and they are huge, with poor driver visibility. I was almost reversed into by one only a few days ago. I was waiting for a gap in the traffic to pull out of a side road with another cyclist. The SUV turned in to the side road, discovered that this road was not passable for motor vehicles and attempted to reverse into us. Luckily I noticed what was occurring and intervened. I have no idea how they failed to see us when pulling in and in their mirrors.
As far as SUV's go, you probably picked the absolutely safest one made on the planet for cyclists. It's the only car I know that has a cyclist detection system with auto breaking as standard equipment.
It will never be as safe for pedestrians and cyclists as a small vehicle, but let's not blame manufacturers for making cars of different sizes. I think it's the job of legislators to tax the hell out of gas and large vehicles, then let the consumer decide. The job of the manufacturer is to make the product people want, and make it as safe as possible. I can't see where Volvo could do any better with the XC90 really. Do you?
These Volvo SUVs (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volvo_XC90) are very popular where I live and they are huge, with poor driver visibility. I was almost reversed into by one only a few days ago. I was waiting for a gap in the traffic to pull out of a side road with another cyclist. The SUV turned in to the side road, discovered that this road was not passable for motor vehicles and attempted to reverse into us. Luckily I noticed what was occurring and intervened. I have no idea how they failed to see us when pulling in and in their mirrors.