‘The deployment of a public EU-wide emergency call system represents a very important achievement for the safety of European road users. About 2500 lives could be saved every year in Europe as well as the severity of injuries could be considerably reduced in tens of thousands of cases. The eCall will be free of charge, for the benefit of any driver in Europe independently of the car he or she drives,’ said the rapporteur, Olga Sehnalova (S&D, CZ).

The draft rules set October 2015 as the final date for manufacturers to be ready to install eCall devices in new models of cars and light vans. However, to meet the industry’s request for more time to develop and test the system, MEPs left open the possibility of postponing this deadline.

In response, Antonio Avenoso, executive director of the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC), said: ‘This technology is all about saving lives by saving time. So politicians should waste no more precious months getting this system in place: the deadline of the end of 2015 proposed by the European Commission is feasible for new types of car. Delaying further will just mean more lives lost unnecessarily on Europe's roads.’    

The Parliament vote also includes a request that the European Commission investigate extending the scope of the legislation to other vehicles by 2018.

ETSC added that it has called for all drivers and riders to have access to the technology, including building it into lorries, buses and also motorcycles.  

The eCall regulation was approved at first reading by 485 votes to 151, with 32 abstentions

The vote included the approval of amendments to strengthen the data protection requirements of the proposed legislation to ensure that only a minimum set of data are stored, and for as limited time as possible.  

Before becoming law, a deal will need to be struck with member state transport ministers.