site.btaFour Test eCall-equipped Cars Hit Road in Bulgaria

Four Test eCall-equipped Cars Hit Road in Bulgaria

Sofia, October 21 (BTA) - Four test eCall-equipped cars are
going to hit the road in Bulgaria. The launch is part of a pilot
project for the implementation of the eCall system in this
country, Director General of the National 112 Emergency Call
System Stoyan Gramatikov said in an interview for the Bulgarian
News Agency, BTA.

As per the relevant EU directive, the eCall car service is to be
implemented in all EU member states by October 2017.

Work on the system's implementation in Bulgaria started at the
beginning of 2013.

eCall is an initiative with the purpose to bring rapid
assistance to motorists involved in a collision anywhere in the
European Union. In case of a crash, an eCall-equipped car
automatically calls the nearest 112 emergency centre. Even if no
passenger is able to speak, e.g. due to injuries, a 'Minimum
Set of Data' is sent, which includes the exact location of the
crash site. Shortly after the accident, emergency services are
alerted that there has been an accident, and where exactly.

eCall cuts emergency services response time which goes down to
50 per cent in the countryside and 60 per cent in urban areas.
The quicker response will save hundreds of lives in the EU every
year.

Owners of older cars will be able to purchase a board IVS eCall
device which is expected to cost below 100 euros. A number of
Bulgarian companies have expressed interest in the manufacturing
of the device and selling it here.