European Parliament supports in-vehicle emergency call system

Proposals for an EU-wide in-vehicle emergency call system were supported by an overwhelming majority in the European Parliament last week.

The plan is to fit all new cars from 2009 with a device that automatically calls the nearest emergency service in the event of an accident.

The next step is to press individual member states to go ahead with the scheme.

MEP Gary Titley says governments will need to get their acts together to meet the 2009 deadline.

'The original plan is to have pilots up and running next year so we need to get on with it to develop a common platform and interfaces and for member states to upgrade their public safety answering systems,' said Titley.

The eCall system could cut fatalities by up to 10 per cent, saving 2,500 lives and E22bn (£15bn) every year. It could also help cut congestion, saving another E2bn-E4bn (£1.4bn-£2.8bn) annually.