A European Union regulation mandating all new types of cars be equipped with eCall, an automatic emergency assistance system that calls for help in case of an accident, entered into force on Saturday.
According to Erik Jonnaert, secretary general of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, cars with eCall are able to alert the nearest emergency centre anywhere in Europe.
“In case of a crash and transmit the exact location of the car, even if the passengers are unable to speak, will be known.
“The EU estimates that eCall will cut the emergency response time by up to 50 per cent in the countryside and 60 per cent in urban areas.
“This means that ambulances, fire engines and the police can intervene as quickly as possible within the ‘golden hour’ after a collision,’’ Jonnaert said.
Report says the EU hopes the quicker response times will reduce the number of deaths by hundreds each year and the severity of injuries will also drop in tens of thousands of cases.
According to the latest available EU data, in 2016, 25,500 people died in car accidents on the roads of Europe and 135,000 got seriously injured. (dpa/NAN)
