Car Accident Gizmo Could Save Lives

• News
• Published: 09 Sep 2009 in Motoring and Car Insurance

Car accident technology which could save lives by automatically alerting emergency services if a vehicle crashes could be introduced in Europe if the UK agrees sign up to it.

Europe's mobile phone operators have voluntarily agreed with the European Commission to implement an in-car automatic emergency system called eCall, but until all EU member states sign the Memorandum of Understanding it cannot take effect.

Six still have not done so - the UK, Ireland, Denmark, France, Latvia and Malta - and EU telecoms commissioner Viviane Reding said: "The roll-out of the pan-European eCall needs everyone's cooperation.

"Mobile operators, the car industry and the majority of member states have shown the necessary commitment, but six countries still have not done so.

"They should now take their foot off the brake and speed up the introduction of a system that can save lives. Otherwise the Commission will need to propose legislation next year".

eCall automatically dials t112, the European emergency number, and sends the crash location to the nearest emergency service - even when passengers do not know or cannot say where they are.