Ergonomic driver's seat

Major demands are placed on bus drivers who drive city and line traffic. They must focus fully on traffic in order to drive safely, while frequently following stressful schedules. At the same time, they must receive passengers in a friendly and positive manner.

The manner in which drivers perform their duties has an impact on the passenger experience, fuel consumption and the wear and tear of the bus and thus also on the lifecycle cost of the bus.

Accordingly, when developing the Volvo 7900 and Volvo 8900, Volvo Buses placed major emphasis on creating a driver’s seat that will provide the driver with the best possible prerequisites to do a good job, during long shifts.

The company interviewed many bus drivers, allowed them to test different designs, made computer simulations and mathematical calculations, all in an effort to find the most ergonomic solutions.

The driver’s seat on the Volvo 7900 has a large number of adjustment options for the seat and steering wheel to accommodate all drivers, tall or short. The controls are located where the drivers requested them.

Unobstructed vision is of utmost importance to a bus driver. The view from the Volvo 7900 is excellent with large window areas, three-way rearview mirrors and an optional rear camera. The driver’s seat has its own climate zone, with generous storage space for the driver’s personal belongings.

Safety first

Safety is one of Volvo’s core values and permeates everything the company does. The Volvo 7900 is basically a stable design that complies with the EU’s R66 rollover requirement. The bus has electronically controlled brakes.

All seats can be equipped with two or three-point seatbelts. The engine compartment and the auxiliary heater are fitted with fire detectors and the engine compartment can be fitted with a sprinkler system.

To increase passenger safety, Volvo has developed an integrated surveillance camera that can be installed in all models of the Volvo 8700. Volvo Buses has also developed an alcohol safety interlock device specifically adapted for bus traffic. The engine can be started without a breathalyzer, but the brakes will remain locked if the breathalyzer reveals that the driver is intoxicated.

The Volvo 7700 was manufactured in the plant in Wroclaw, Poland. Initially, the Volvo 7900 will also be manufactured there, but since it shares the same body concept as the Volvo 8900, the Volvo 7900 may also be manufactured in the plant in Säffle, Sweden in the future.

Volvo 7900 as articulated version

Photos and text:
Volvo Buses