Cars that call for help
By: Drivers.com staff
Date: 2000-04-12
Automatic collision notification (ACN) is valued by motorists as a life-saving measure almost as much as air bags, according to a recent study by U.S.-based Dohring Company, which specializes in market research, particularly in the automotive industry.
Cars equipped with ACN have collision sensors connected to their electronics systems that automatically send a wireless alert signal and accident location information to response centers. In turn, these centers relay the information to emergency authorities. Because the system functions automatically, the authorities are alerted even if the car's occupants are incapacitated. Future ACN systems may also relay information on accident severity.
"The key is speed," says Steve Millstein, president of ATX Technologies, a major telematics service provider to the automotive and wireless markets.
"For example, in rural areas where searches can be difficult, experts predict ACN can reduce the current nine minutes that elapses before authorities even know about an accident to one minute, saving up to 2,000 lives annually. All motorists could benefit from the safety and peace of mind ACN offers."
ACN resolves important problems faced by the emergency response community. Operators receive nearly 100,000 wireless 911 calls each day, yet almost none of those calls has location information with landline 911 calls. Time is wasted getting this information, and 25 per cent of the time callers do not know where they are, anyway.
With ACN, motorists needn't worry about finding their phones after a collision or wonder if they will be able to use them. Millstein believes that ACN could become standard safety equipment on all cars. Most carmakers with telematics programs offer some form of ACN as an option. Mercedes-Benz and Cadillac have made ACN standard across entire model lines.
Another U.S. survey, this time of cellular phone users and conducted by The Strategis Group, shows strong interest in handset-based telematics services and a preference for live operators, as opposed to automated assistance, for emergency services.
The regionally balanced survey, conducted in February, 2000, included 500 wireless phone subscribers, with equal numbers of males and females. On average, respondents were 45 years old, earn incomes of $65,000, and belong to households with 3.1 persons, 2.35 cars, and 1.7 cellular phones.
Among the key findings, 28 per cent are "extremely" or "very" interested in telematics services. Safety services aroused the highest interest; over 30 per cent are "extremely" or "very" interested in emergency roadside assistance, "phone finder" feature and emergency response centre services. Twenty per cent said they are "extremely" or "very" interested in telematics for convenience and information services.
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