eCalljärjestelmää

eCalljärjestelmää is a European initiative aimed at improving road safety. It is an in-vehicle emergency call system that automatically contacts emergency services in the event of a serious accident. The system is designed to operate across all EU member states, as well as in Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.

When a crash occurs, the eCall system automatically detects the impact and sends a standardized emergency message to a public safety answering point (PSAP). This message includes crucial information such as the vehicle's location, direction of travel, time of the incident, and whether it was a manual or automatic activation. Vehicle identification number (VIN) and the number of occupants if known are also transmitted. This allows emergency responders to dispatch the appropriate assistance more quickly and efficiently.

The eCall system can also be manually activated by pressing a button inside the vehicle, for example, if a driver witnesses an accident. The primary goal of eCall is to reduce response times to accidents, thereby saving lives and mitigating the severity of injuries. It is mandated for all new car models and vans sold in the European Union since April 2018. The system operates using cellular technology and a dedicated satellite network for location data. It is an essential component of the EU's Intelligent Transport Systems strategy.