How much can a car company do to improve bicycle safety? This year, Volvo seems to be on a mission to find out. Long known for its commitment to safety features, the Swedish auto manufacturer is doing what it can to carry over that reputation into two-wheeled safety. First there was the launch of a partnership with POC to create a bike helmet with two-wave connectivity that can receive proximity alerts from nearby cars. Now Volvo has a new project: Life Paint, a reflective paint that can be used to cover a cyclist’s clothing, bike frame, helmet, and virtually any other surface.
After all, Volvo has a pretty ambitious vision for the future that by 2020, no person will be killed, or seriously injured, by a new Volvo. It’s a lofty mission but one that Volvo seems committed to seeing through. The company is starting by giving away free cans of the ultra-reflective paint at six bike stores in England, where a reported 19,000 cyclists are involved in accidents each year. If the paint catches on, Volvo says it will make it available internationally.
The spray paint itself is transparent during daylight and lasts about a week once applied. Shine headlights on it at night, and it becomes reflective to enhance visibility in traffic. Volvo is targeting cyclists with the Life Paint project but says it can also be used to light up pedestrians' clothing, children’s backpacks, and dogs' leashes.
Watch the video below for more on how Life Paint can make bike commuters more visible. Until it’s more widely available, check out these casual clothing companies that incorporate hidden reflectivity for cycling at night.
