The rapid development of new information technology makes it realistic to look for more advanced driver support systems to increase the active safety of modern vehicles. Application oriented R&D work must be stimulated in the areas of advanced micro-electronics, new communication techniques, AI-type software, and automotive human engineering.

The design of a driver-vehicle interface where the information flow to the driver and the control actions taken by the driver could be supported in an intelligent and selective way is the long-term goal. Research on optimal design of the driver-vehicle interface, where also the adaptive dimension of the driver-vehicle dialogue (or interaction) can be addressed, will therefore be of specific interest.

Some examples of active safety research and development work within the SAAB-SCANIA Group in the past, at present, and in the future are discussed.