Volvo: New airbag protects pedestrians

Swedish automaker Volvo displayed an airbag at an auto show in Switzerland that company officials said is meant to protect pedestrians hit by a car. The so-called "pedestrian airbag" introduced at the show in Geneva is mounted under the hood of car and is meant to deploy if the vehicle hits a person at speeds of 12 to 30 mph, the New York Post reported Thursday. Popular Mechanics explained that the airbag uses seven sensors to determine if the car has struck a human. If it has, the airbag protects against an impact against the windshield, an area that pedestrians often hit if they are struck. Volvo, which is owned by a Chinese holding company, also introduced an automatic braking system at the auto show that runs through March 17. The braking system senses a cyclist who has swerved in front of the car, setting off an alarm and applies the brakes automatically.