Overview
eCall specifies the automatic or manually released transmission of a set of data and location based emergency call from a vehicle to the emergency response services. The objective of such a transmission is the acceleration of the response and the reaching of the accident place in order to reduce the consequences of the accident. The implementation of eCall is based on a MoU, which has also been signed by FEDRO, and is promoted by the European Commission.
There are several issues concerning the implementation of eCall which have not yet been clarified such as the legal and financial principles, the organization of eCall, the link to the emergency call number 112 the conditions for the legitimacy of automated emergency calls.
These questions must be solved by the European normalization as well as by the national organizations, while the specific scopes have to be clarified in detail.
In Switzerland, there is a need for action as an implementation plan based on the European requirements must be rolled out, while taking into account the existing and new structures and resources such as its and traffic management centrums (VMZ-CH).
The Project will evaluate the feasibility of eCall in Switzerland (in coordination with the EU). According to the EU guidelines, eCall is classified at high priority and shall be implemented throughout the EU from 2010. The objectives of this study are:
- Compilation of the principles for eCall in Switzerland and the EU
- Analysis and record of the most important eCall functions and the role of eCall-key players as well as responsibilities in Switzerland
- Analysis of existing benefit-cost analysis concerning transferability to Switzerland
- Evaluation on the application of the GSM-channel for an area-wide acceleration of emergency calls
- Identification of solutions for the financing of the telecommunication and emergency response services
- Identification of the demand for coordination within traffic management (VM) and the traffic management centrums (VMZ-CH)
In a first step, the foundations for the evaluation of the current development status of eCall definition and standardization are compiled and reviewed critically. It will take into account the organizational, functional, system and technical aspects of market launch. It creates an overview of the state of development in other European countries. Developments and aspirations of particular interest are described. The delimitation / overlap with the existing emergency nature and related trends (eg telematics-based emergency services of MFz insurers) will be shown.
In a second step, talks with the ASTRA (strategy, traffic management, vehicles...) and with key partners in Switzerland (OFCOM, the Swiss Police Technology Commission, emergency services, car importers, MFz insurance ...) out and at EU level. The talks have to take aim at reducing positions, interests and potential contributions of the parties regarding the implementation of eCall.
In the third step the basics in terms of transferability of eCall are evaluated in Switzerland and drawn up recommendations for further action by the competent authorities and institutions.
Funding
Results
The aim of this report is to give recommendations for the further actions concerning eCall in Switzerland.
Based on the cost-benefit analysis of the European Union, calculations for Switzerland resulted in a decrease of the amount of fatalities by 10-20 persons per year, leading to savings of 20-50 Mio. CHF. The amount of severely injured could be reduced by 180-520 persons per year, leading to savings of 60-170 Mio. CHF. Thanks to eCall, the yearly costs of traffic accidents could be reduced by 80-220 Mio. CHF. The costs for the adaptation of the PSAPs would amount to 3 Mio. CHF and the upgrade of all vehicles in Switzerland would cost between 700 Mio. and 1’000 Mio. CHF (without costs of operation).
For the further progress concerning eCall in Switzerland, this report recommends the formation of an “eCall Switzerland”-project group which coordinates the implementation of eCall. In this “eCall Switzerland”-project group, the representatives of the Federal Roads Office (FEDRO), the Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM) and the Conference of the Cantonal Police Commanders of Switzerland (CCPCS) or respectively the Swiss Police-Technical Commission should participate. The project group should constitute itself particularly with regard to the relevant responsibilities. After the formation of the group, the competencies in Switzerland should be communicated to the international committees (in particular to the European Commission). The “eCall Switzerland”-project group should continuously monitor the development of eCall on an international level and place their requirements actively in the international committees. Furthermore, the project group should be prepared to coordinate the implementation of eCall in Switzerland when the implementation of eCall on the European level is foreseeable.