Most people have no idea that their vehicle may in fact have a button that could save their lives in an emergency - and are now being urged to check their cars for one.
Four years ago today, new legislation meant that all new types of cars and vans must have the emergency call system known as eCall – which includes an SOS button fitted in the vehicle.
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If you are involved in an accident that triggers your car's airbags, vehicle sensors activate the eCall system, which automatically sends the vehicle’s location to a 999 operator. The system also provides the exact location and identity of the vehicle to emergency operators.
The system enables drivers to speak directly with emergency operators in the event of a serious incident and the precise coordinates provided by the system enable operators to direct emergency services to the exact location of the vehicle for faster assistance.
You can also use this system to report a hazard on the road or a vehicle travelling in the wrong direction.
Mel Clarke, Customer Services Director at National Highways, said: “Safety is our priority at National Highways. The emergency call (eCall) system and its SOS button could save lives and revolutionise road incident response on the roads, yet our research shows that most people do not know about it.
"I urge drivers to check if they have this safety feature installed, particularly if your vehicle was manufactured since April 2018, and to follow our advice about how and when to use it.”
All new types of passenger cars and vans built since April 2018 have eCall fitted as standard. The system is automatically triggered in an accident while the SOS button is typically found near the top of the windscreen or on the steering wheel.
Using the SOS button means that the 999 operators automatically receive your vehicle details including your location and direction of travel. Through your vehicle’s speaker system, they will then ask for further information to establish the nature of the emergency.
