Cyprus Mail 16 February 2025 - by Rebekah Gregoriades
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| How the eCall system works |
The eCall system fitted in cars under a compulsory EU regulation for the past seven years or so, to send precise locations to the emergency services in case of a serious accident, has apparently been working well in Cyprus.
The system, which kicks into action either automatically or manually when the airbags activate, dials a call centre through the Global Positioning System, known as GPS, which asks the driver if everyone is OK. If not or if there is no reply, the call centre notifies the police on 112.
President of the car importers association (Semio) Alexis Anninos told the Cyprus Mail that the regulation was being implemented in Cyprus and that the eCall system worked well.
Details of the system were offered by technical director of Mercedes-Benz dealer in Cyprus Stavros Theodosiades.
Theodosiades told the Cyprus Mail the regulation stipulates that “cars manufactured since the end of 2017 must have the eCall emergency system installed by the manufacturer.”
However, the system has been around much longer.
Theodosiades explained that Mercedes had the system before the regulation and he had seen it in some SLR models as early as 2006.
“These were very expensive sports cars. The system couldn’t work in Cyprus because of a limited network. Now it works here as well, in line with EU regulations,” he added.
Theodosiades said “all cars imported by our group have the eCall system.”
“There are Mercedes cars that are being imported from third countries, outside the EU. To meet the European type approval, they should be inspected. According to EU legislation, cars that are intended for the EU market should have the system installed,” he said.
He added that he had been invited by the Republic’s authorities to test the system back in 2018.
“I have been informed that other colleagues in other companies had also received calls. We communicated through a car in an indoor environment and outside with the call centre that is responsible for us, the Cyprus market, and we were put through to the Cyprus police. This was back in 2018,” he said.
During the test, “we spoke through the system to test it and we didn’t encounter any problems,” Theodosiades.
“We were connected to the call centre, and we informed that it was testing purposes and all went well. We were immediately put through to the Cyprus police,” he said.
The Mercedes technical director explained that there was a virtual sim card in the car that provides information through GPS satellite connection about the precise location of the car. The location is received through the satellite and sent by the call centre to the Republic’s authorities.
“For example, if there is a serious accident and the vehicle’s lifesaving means are activated, for example airbags, the system is automatically activated and the driver is then asked if he is alright. If the driver responds and says he is not injured, they ask from the call centre if he needs any assistance,” Theodosiades said.
“In the event that the driver or passengers do not respond, then the police are notified and an ambulance is sent to the location of the accident – they know the exact location through GPS and in which direction the car was travelling.”
Regarding aftermarket products, Theodosiades told the Cyprus Mail that “we don’t have any instructions from the manufacturer regarding the aftermarket installation of the system and when we don’t have instructions we do not install it.”
He also said that if Cyprus-registered car manufactured after 2017 is involved in a serious accident abroad, then the local authorities of that country are notified through the system, as its location is pinpointed by satellite.
According to information on Your Europe, the system works in all EU countries, regardless of where the vehicle was bought or registered.
When eCall is activated, it connects to the nearest emergency response centre, using both a telephone and data link, allowing the driver and passengers to communicate with the emergency centre operator.
If the eCall system fails, the driver will receive a warning indication.
Under EU rules, drivers have the right to use a third-party service (TPS) eCall system in addition to the standard 112-based one, as long as it complies with EU approved technical standards and ensures an automatic switch to the 112 eCall if the TPS does not work.
The system is compulsory for new car models.
“If you buy a new model of car, approved for manufacture after 31 March 2018, it must have the 112-based eCall system installed. This rule applies both to cars with no more than eight seats and light commercial vehicles. If you have a car which is already registered, you are not obliged to retrofit an eCall device but you can have it installed if your car meets the technical requirements.”
Regarding eCall privacy and the protection of personal data, the regulation stipulates that the system is only activated if the vehicle is involved in a serious accident and remains inactive otherwise.
