The Ministry of Transport, the 112 Emergency Service, and New Development (ND), a company that specializes in vehicle tracking systems, aim to establish a satellite monitoring system for vehicles in Iceland.
The project, dubbed e-Call, is a collaborative project within the EU, with 13 member states as well as Norway and Switzerland establishing the tracking system, 24 stundir reports.
“It is the EU’s wish that all vehicles manufactured for the European market after 2010 be equipped with the e-Call system,” said managing director of ND Fridgeir Jónsson.
If an accident occurs the car will call emergency services automatically and provide information about its location, the speed the car was driving before the accident, its registration number, car type, number of passengers and information about the impact.
Managing director of the Icelandic Automobile Association (FÍB) said drivers have mixed feeling about e-Call. “Some are satisfied with the security that the system provides, others feel they are being monitored.”
Jónsson said drivers’ fear about being monitored all the time is unfounded. “The information about time and location will only be provided when a car is in an accident. Otherwise it is not being monitored at all. This sort of discussion is not appropriate when saving people’s lives is at stake. The first minutes are very important.”
It has not been determined whether all car owners will be obligated to use the e-Call system or whether they will have a choice.
