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Commission urges eCall action |
The European Commission has outlined a set of ‘urgent’ actions designed to revive its emergency call technology for car (eCall) technology programme, following a hold up in developments in the last year. It was agreed back in 2005 that the eCall systems would be standard in all new cars sold within the EU by 2009. While the Commission has supported the scheme, Member States have been less enthusiastic in investing in infrastructure, and difficulties have arisen at industry level.Current timescales cite 2010 as a date for deployment, marking a minor delay, but the Commission has moved to head off any further problems with a new action plan – mainly instructing Member States to follow new deadlines, and asking industry to renew its commitment to the project. “We urgently need to get eCall back on track,” explained Viviane Reding, EU Commissioner for Information Society and Media. “We have the technology, now we need Member States and industry to move up a gear and help us make Europe’s roads safer sooner rather than later.” |
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