Euro MEPs back plan for automatic 112 call

The European Parliament's internal market committee has backed EU plans for all new types of car and van to be fitted with automated emergency call devices but opened the door to postponing their introduction beyond the proposed deadline of October 2015. The vote on eCall gives a green light for a pan-European type approval method to ensure the devices meet the necessary technical standards. The decision follows a vote in December in the transport committee to approve legislation for member states to develo
February 12, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
The European Parliament's internal market committee has backed EU plans for all new types of car and van to be fitted with automated emergency call devices but opened the door to postponing their introduction beyond the proposed deadline of October 2015. The vote on eCall gives a green light for a pan-European type approval method to ensure the devices meet the necessary technical standards. The decision follows a vote in December in the transport committee to approve legislation for member states to develop the technical infrastructure for handling calls from vehicles that have crashed.  

Antonio Avenoso, executive director of the 3535 European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) said: "The key technologies for eCall are already available and in use, so there is no need to postpone the entry-into-force.  After a serious car crash, the time taken for emergency services to reach you can mean the difference between life and death. This system has the potential to save many lives because it will enable the emergency services to respond quicker.    

"It's now crucial that Parliament negotiators support the strongest possible implementation of the technology during negotiations with member states on the final deal and ensure these life-saving devices are in all new types of car and van from the end of next year."

The internal market committee proposed that the 1690 European Commission should investigate extending the scope of the legislation to other vehicles by 2018.  ETSC has called for all drivers and riders to have access to the technology, including building it into lorries, buses and also motorcycles.

Before becoming law, the proposals must be agreed with member state transport ministers and approved by the full Parliament.
Location Based Systems Urban Traffic Control

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Governments must look beyond short-term spending of public funds
    February 2, 2012
    Phil Pettitt, Chief Executive of innovITS, the UK's ITS Centre of Excellence, argues that governments need to look beyond the short-term when looking to pump-prime economic recovery with public funds. It seems, in the current economic climate, that a 'good' day is one in which no company is announcing job cuts or going into administration. Consumer demand is down and businesses are retrenching, cutting costs and fretting over the consequences of shrinking opportunities and order books. It has not been this
    Read More
  • Automatic speed enforcement in Finland
    February 1, 2012
    In 2004, Finland extended its automatic speed enforcement from 280 to 800 road kilometres. Risto Öörni of the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, explains the costs and the benefits. Automatic speed enforcement in Finland is operated by the police and is based on cameras installed on poles along main roads and mobile semi-automatic speed enforcement units installed in police cars.
    Read More
  • European lawmakers agree to improve toll collection rules
    November 22, 2018
    The European Parliament (EP) and European Council (EC) have agreed on rules to improve the tracing of drivers who fail to pay road tolls when travelling within the European Union. The informal agreement is expected to improve information exchange on vehicle data. Additionally, the agreed rules are intended to allow service providers to develop a system which allows drivers to use a single on-board toll payment device when travelling across the EU. Rapporteur Massimilano Salini (European People’s Party
    Read More
  • CIDRO culvert protector cuts crashes
    March 25, 2014
    Spanish firm CIDRO has developed a straightforward system for protecting motorists from severe impacts with culvert ends. The company’s CROSSAFE device is made from concrete and galvanised steel components and is installed at the end of a concrete culvert.
    Read More

Highlighted Content