So are we to believe that if the Intellisafe software needs an update the car is not fully safe to drive at the moment? What happens if we have an accident that could be blamed on the software?

I’ve had mine done this morning. No difference in the Intellisafe menu in itself. Neither have I noticed any changes while driving when I did deviate from the lines marking (with no oncoming traffic though). I just wish there was a way these things can be verified (not the application of the feature just the update in itself and if it was applicable to the car).

It’s not an update; they’ve added new features to it. Your car would be safe to drive if you don’t have this upgrade as the functions currently on there will continue to function as intended.

You have to remember that the majority of cars on the road don't have any of the accident avoidance technologies that Volvo fit to all of our cars. This is just giving the vehicle even more, it's not detracting from what it has already.

Do you people find things like lane assistance & collision avoidance useful? I find them to be a at best a nuisance & at worse flippin' annoying.

Probably more useful than having an accident!

It’s a bit like the situation on this forum a few years ago, when there was much discussion about disabling daytime running lights.
I can’t see why a system that is designed to minimise the likelihood of people being injured or killed in an accident can be anything other than desirable.
I have booked my car in for the update next week.

Incidentally, my daughter has a Ford Focus fitted with a Pedestrian Detection system: she was driving home from work one evening last week, travelling at about 60 mph on the A1, when the alarm suddenly sounded and the brakes came on; she ended up stopping only a couple of feet away from some cattle that had strayed onto the road. It was a dark and very wet night, and she had not seen them, there is no doubt that the system saved her from being involved in a very nasty accident.

I ask because I've found that lane assist only works about half the time so you can't rely on it & collision avoidance just goes off now & again for no reason. I've not been in a situation where the car really needs to take avoiding action because I tend to look where I'm going.
Perhaps one day it will save my life, I'll get back to you if that happens.

Speed related, so it does not constantly vibrate the steering or give warnings in town driving when having to pull out to pass parked cars, cyclists etc. Or when driving at slower speeds.

The function of the Lane Keeping Aid (LKA) is to help the driver to reduce the risk of the car accidentally leaving its own lane on motorways and similar major routes.

Lane Keeping Aid steers the car back into its lane and/or alerts the driver with vibrations in the steering wheel.

Lane Keeping Aid is active within the speed range 65–200 km/h (40–125 mph) on roads with clearly visible side lines.

On narrow roads the function may be unavailable, in which case it goes into standby mode. The function becomes available again when the road is wide enough.

A camera reads the side lines of the road/lane.
Lane assistance steers the car back into its lane.
Lane assistance warns with steering wheel vibrations.
Depending on settings, lane assistance acts in accordance with the following:

Assist activated: When the car is approaching a lane line, the function will actively steer the car back into its lane by applying a slight torque to the steering wheel.

Warning activated: If the car is about to cross a lane line, the driver is warned by means of vibrations in the steering wheel.

NOTE

When a direction indicator/flasher is switched on, there are no steering corrections or alerts from lane assistance.

WARNING

The function is supplementary driver support intended to facilitate driving and make it safer – it cannot handle all situations in all traffic, weather and road conditions.

The driver is advised to read all sections in the Owner's Manual that relate to this function to learn about factors such as its limitations and what the driver should be aware of before using the system.

Driver support functions are not a substitute for the driver's attention and judgement. The driver is always responsible for ensuring the car is driven in a safe manner, at the appropriate speed, with an appropriate distance to other vehicles, and in accordance with current traffic rules and regulations.

Lane assistance does not intervene
Lane assistance does not engage on sharp inside curves.
In some situations, lane assistance allows lane lines to be crossed without intervening with either steering assistance or a warning – e.g. when using the direction indicators or cutting bends.