eCall presented at ERTICO – ITS Europe Partner Session, 4 May 2007

Creation date: 25 May 2007

Attendees of ERTICO – ITS Europe’s annual Partner meeting that took place 3-4 May in Genval, Belgium were treated to an update of ADAC’s eCall activities by ADAC Director Consumer Protection and Public Policy Johann Grill.

In his presentation, Mr Grill explained the eCall architecture and ADAC’s own potential regarding eCall. ADAC counts 16 million members and carries out 3.7 million roadside services annually managed by 5 regional call centres. It utilises 44 helicopters with 35,000 missions each year.

ADAC’s recent activities concerning eCall encompass the following:

• Informing ADAC members about eCall via the ADAC magazine
• Developing press material for European Club campaign in the FIA network
• Organising an event on data protection
• Exhibiting the eCall car
• Carrying out an eCall feasibility test

The eCall car was also on display in Genval, driven all of the way from Munich purposely for the occasion. The eCall car has been designed and equipped to demonstrate how eCall works and shows three approved systems (OnStar, SATALARM, DriveTracker) from three countries.

Mr Grill explained the PSAP situation in Germany and summarised the main recommendations of the eCall Driving Group. He also provided more information about ADAC’s eCall Feasibility Trial (March-May 2007) set up with its partners to demonstrate how eCall works. Testing of eCall was on the basis of the final eCall recommendations and involves nine test drivers in three countries who release manual eCalls from different sites in Austria, Germany and Italy. ARC call centers are involved as intermediate service providers. The procedure will also be tested in near-border and cross border situations. Results will be presented at the eSafety Conference in Berlin, 5-6 June 2007.

Mr Grill noted that eCall success is on the horizon if commitments are kept high. In the question/answer period which followed Mr Grill’s presentation, ERTICO CEO Arnold van Zyl added than studies in Finland have shown that 5-8% lives could be saved from eCall – proving that eCall is already a success. Juhani Jääskeläinen of the European Commission DG INFSO commended the ADAC for its efforts in promoting eCall.

For more information about ADAC's eCall activities, please visit http://www.adac.de/Verkehr/sicher_unterwegs/ecall/default.asp?ComponentID=173409&SourcePageID=121325 or the eCall Toolbox

ADAC's Johann Grill and Bernfried Coldewey show off the eCall car