eCall - the S.O.S. for drivers

By: Lisa Keegan

Date: Wednesday, 22. June 2011

Earlier this month the European Commission's eCall in-car emergency system added 5 more EU Member States (Belgium, Denmark, Luxemburg, Malta and Romania) to join the 15 Member Countries and 3 other European countries already signed up to the emergent electronic safety system. The countries already signed up are Germany, Austria, Cyprus, Spain, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland.

eCall is based on EU Directive E112 (2003) which requires that all mobile phone networks provide relevant emergency services with any information they have about the source of a mobile call. The eCall system works by using a black box device which, when sensors are triggered in a collision, initiates a 112 call to the nearest emergency centre. If the caller is unable to speak the data connection will ensure that the necessary information (in terms of GPS location and car description) is transmitted. 112 is the pan-European emergency call number which operates in conjunction with the national emergency numbers of member states. This emergency number is standardised across the EU and reachable from fixed and mobile phones, but what the eCall initiative does is take this a step further, by allowing for this emergency call to be automated in the event of a collision.

Although the mobile phone operators are required to participate in the eCall scheme, Member States and car manufacturers are not. 'eCall is a clear example of how different stakeholders must work towards the same objective in a coordinated way. It makes no sense, for example, to have eCall functionality in a vehicle when there is no infrastructure available to answer a distress call. From the outset, automakers have stressed the active role that Member States, emergency service providers and other stakeholders, like mobile network providers, play.' [source: European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA)]

With the 5 new countries on board, there are now 20 European Member States signed up to participate in the eCall programme. Critical to the large-scale deployment of this service is the provision of the necessary in-car devices as standard. The majority of car manufacturers have agreed to integrate the devices in all new vehicles from September 2010. Standardising such equipment in new cars will likely come with a price tag for the consumer, but there is also the public cost involved in upgrading the emergency call response facilities in Member States. However, according to EUROPA, the portal site of the European Union, the savings will eventually outweigh these costs. 'The annual costs associated with introducing the system are estimated at 4.55 billion a year and relate specifically to the costs of installing the system in vehicles and modernising the public service answering points. Nevertheless, all the estimates indicate that the eCall system will have a very favourable cost-benefit ratio. Thus, it is estimated that the system would result in annual savings of about 26 billion (savings on accident and congestion costs).'

Apart from the potential financial savings it is estimated that the eCall system may reduce injury severity by 15% and reduce EU-wide traffic fatalities by up to 2500 people annually. [source: drivers.com telematics article]

There is of course the flipside, the black box device to be installed in all new cars under this initiative will also open up huge possibilities in terms of 'big brother' style tracking of vehicles. It looks like the old argument of civil liberties versus personal safety may be rearing its' ugly head once again!

Related Links:

• Future car - telematics gains traction
• Europe overcoming border telematics hurdles
• What is Automotive Telematics and why is it sick?
• Cars that call for help

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Arry,

Driving Instructor,

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