MEPs back mandatory introduction of emergency call devices in vehicles

All new models of cars and light vehicles are to be fitted with an electronic device that will alert emergency services in the event of a crash, under new laws agreed by the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

MEPs voted to back a proposal that will make the emergency call devices mandatory for new car models from March 31st, 2018. It is hoped that 10 per cent of road deaths will be prevented by the new legislation. An estimated 25,700 people lost their lives in road accidents last year across the European Union.

The eCall system will be free of charge to the public. It will automatically dial the 112 emergency number in the event of an accident, sending details of the accident to emergency services.

MEPs also secured an obligation from the European Commission to assess, within three years of the introduction of the system, whether eCall devices should be applied to other classes of vehicles such as buses, coaches or trucks.

The main negotiator for the European Parliament, Czech MEP Olga Sehnalová, said in Strasbourg yesterday that the new proposal was a result of years of negotiation at EU level and would help to reduce deaths by 10 per cent and reduce accident emergency response time by up to 50 per cent. “An estimated 2,500 lives may be saved as a result of the fact that rescue vehicles will get to accident sites much more quickly,” she said.

The new EU proposals will place obligations on car manufacturers to equip vehicles with the devices, while member states are also obliged to have infrastructure in place to process the eCalls by October 17th, 2017.

The law was passed despite concerns about data privacy protection among some MEPs. Ms Sehnalová said the final draft proposal had met the concerns of those worried about the use of data recovered through the eCall system for other functions. “When it comes to data protection, we want a system that remains neutral in terms of normal operational activity and ensures that any information serves solely the purpose of saving human lives,” she said.

“Any other use of that data apart from in relation to the accident would require the express authorisation of the person concerned.”

The final draft law included a clause precluding tracking of eCall-equipped vehicles before an accident occurs. Rules also state that eCall data cannot be passed to third parties without the consent of the person concerned. Ms Sehnalová also noted that the EU’s data-protection commissioner had been consulted on the proposal.

Member states are required to report to the commission before December 24th this year on their progress to date in introducing the infrastructure required to operate the eCall system.