Volvo has developed a truck equipped with technology capable of identifying when the driver shows signs of drowsiness while driving, potentially triggering autonomous braking if the driver does not react. This feature, called Controlled Stop, will be presented by the Swedish manufacturer at Fenatran 2026.
Controlled Stop will be available as an option on the heavy models FH, FM, and FMX, sold starting from the event, which will take place at São Paulo Expo from November 9 to 13. Volvo states that this feature is exclusive to the brand.
In comparison, the Mercedes-Benz Actros has offered a similar emergency stop system in Europe since 2021, although this is activated by the absence of interaction with the steering wheel, and not specifically by the eyes.
The mechanism is activated when sensors detect that the driver keeps their eyes closed for more than five seconds or when they do not identify hands on the steering wheel. Initially, the system issues alerts. If there is no response within the subsequent five seconds, the truck initiates lane keeping with directional correction and subsequently activates the service brakes, gradually reducing speed until stopping in the same lane.
During this stopping maneuver, the hazard lights are turned on. When movement ceases, the doors are unlocked to facilitate the arrival of rescue teams. For context, at 80 km/h, a truck covers approximately 110 meters in five seconds; adding the time of closed eyes and waiting for a reaction, over 220 meters are covered before the procedure begins.
The driver retains the ability to interrupt the stop at any time, simply by pressing the accelerator, applying force to the steering wheel, or deactivating the Attention Detector. This detector represents the first level of warning. In its second version, a sensor was added to monitor whether the driver's eyes are closed, looking down, or looking sideways, intensifying warnings in frequency and volume as drowsiness persists.
This component is part of Safety Packages 5 and 6, with the latter including Volvo Dynamic Steering, a system that uses an electric motor to make steering more stable and light.
In the European Union, cameras designed to monitor driver attention have become mandatory in new trucks since July of this year. In Brazil, the issue of fatigue and sleep is recognized; the Brazilian Traffic Medicine Association (Abramet) points out that these factors are responsible for 60% of road accidents involving professional drivers in categories C, D, and E.
Furthermore, Volvo will introduce the Safety Score, a report accessible via the Volvo Connect application. This tool collects data on sudden braking, collision warnings, and activations of stability control and ABS brakes, allowing carriers to direct appropriate training.
Another improvement is in the automatic electronic parking brake, which now has new activation conditions. With the doors closed, it locks the vehicle ten seconds after stopping, even if the driver has not pressed the brake pedal or left the seat. If the doors are open and the driver is outside the seat, three seconds without using the pedals are sufficient for locking.
This innovation arrives in the brand's most popular model, the Volvo FH 540, which is the best-selling heavy truck in Brazil since 2019. According to the National Federation of Motor Vehicle Distributors (Fenabrave), 5,403 units of this model were registered in 2025.