Emergency call tech for cars stuck in EU jam

The European Union's plan to install technology that can remotely contact the emergency services in all new cars is being stymied by the lassitude of member states.

eCall, the system that will enable all cars to contact 112 (the international equivalent of 999), is due to be fitted to all new cars from 2009. However, the EC said a major effort is needed from member states to meet the deadline.

Information society and media commissioner Viviane Reding said she was pleased with the industry's efforts in installing the tech - which will contact the emergency services in the event of a crash and inform them of the car's location - but urged Europe's governments to invest and promote the technology more.

According to the European Commission, the necessary infrastructure upgrades needed to receive the emergency calls are "way behind schedule".

Using eCall will result in a reduction of between five and 10 per cent in road accident fatalities, said the EC, as the emergency services will have more accurate information with which to locate the injured, allowing them to attend to accidents faster.

Field tests of the eCall system are scheduled to begin next year.