All new cars will call 112 for severe crash of 2015

The European Commission adopted the first measure by 2015 every new car to be able to dial the number for emergency services instead of the driver in case of serious accident.

The intention of the Commission is after four years of lifesaving eCall system to be installed on all new models of cars and light vehicles.

In a crash the system will automatically dial the single European 112 emergency calls and transmit information to emergency services about the location of the car.

The recommendation adopted today calls on EU countries to ensure that mobile operators will upgrade their infrastructure so that calls from the eCall system can be effectively transferred to the emergency services.

When these services are call when an accident, every minute is crucial to saving lives and reducing the consequences of injuries, said the EC. Accident victims do not always have physical reflex or ability to call for help immediately.

ECall devices solve this problem, and notify emergency emergency services, even if the driver or passenger is unconscious or unable to call.

It is estimated that this technology accelerates the arrival of rescue teams with about 40 percent in urban areas and 50 percent in rural areas. Since its introduction the system is expected to help each year in Europe to be rescued hundreds of people and reduce the consequences of injuries in thousands of cases.

A system to operate in the EU, plus Iceland, Norway and Switzerland.

The Commission calls on mobile operators to process received signals in this way free.
The system will be activated automatically after detection of a serious accident of in-vehicle sensors. Once activated, the system dials 112, establishes a telephone connection to the appropriate emergency call center and sent to the emergency services about the accident, including the time of the incident, the exact location of accident vehicles and direction of movement (important for highways and in tunnels).

The eCall may be triggered manually by pressing a button in the car, for example, witnessed a serious accident.

It is estimated that the cost of installing its new car amounted to less than 100 euros.

The system protects privacy and prevents tracking of vehicles, as it is in idle mode and not sending any signals until it is triggered in a crash, the statement said.

Currently only 0.7 per cent of all cars in the EU are equipped with automatic emergency call systems and their number is growing very slowly. These systems of individual manufacturers do not offer compatibility or consistency across the EU, the commission notes.