Green Light to the introduction of eCall

The Hungarian government is committed to operating the eCall system, Fidesz MEP Ildikó Gáll-Pelcz said. The availability of help in case of emergency is an integral part of the single market and the relevant freedoms, she continued, adding that the 21st century requires Europe to have emergency services with uniform IT and well-functioning localisation systems that meet all relevant technical criteria. She also stressed that we must create a free system that works efficiently within the European Union and preserves data privacy at the same time.
 
MEP Ádám Kósa, co-chair of the Disability Intergroup, expressed his satisfaction that the work he has been engaged in for years is now showing results. "Our vehicles will automatically get connected to the 112 emergency centres in the event of an accident, which could save 40 thousand lives annually and prevent 150 thousand persons from becoming seriously disabled. A great advantage of the eCall system is that it will be available for drivers with disabilities as well, he underlined.

Background:
 
Ádám Kósa had requested in a written statement in 2011 that the European Commission come up with legislative and standardization proposals to ensure that Europe’s 112 emergency services are fully available to all citizens; and to foster the development of a service that is accessible, reliable, and independent of devices and networks and is based on the concept of simultaneous communication (35/2011 Written declaration on the need for accessible 112 emergency services).

In a joint amendment proposal, MEPs Ildikó Gáll-Pelcz and Ádám Kósa called upon Member States to make emergency number 112 accessible to people with disabilities or other vulnerable groups by providing, for instance, special equipment, text or sign language services or other facilities for people with auditory or visual impairment.