The Second HeERO International conference presents the results of the implementation of the pan-European in vehicle emergency service – eCall, deployed in the framework of the HeERO (Harmonised eCall European Pilot) project. The event takes place under the high auspices of the European Commission in cooperation with ERTICO (project coordinator), and the European Emergency Number Association (EENA).

In case of a car accident, eCall is an in-vehicle system able to automatically dial the European emergency number 112 and transmit relevant information regarding the location and technical data of the vehicles involved to the emergency services. This allows rapid intervention in the unlikely event that passengers are no longer able to speak. The system also allows manual dialing from the vehicle. eCall is free to the public and it will be compulsory in the European Union as from 1 October 2015.

ERTICO – ITS Europe’s Senior Project Manager and HeERO Project Coordinator Andy Rooke confirms: “Though all new types of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles (categories M1 and N1) will be equipped with eCall by 2015, its development must not stop at this level. eCall has to constantly adapt to new technologies and to the needs of the population in order to save lives, while preserving confidentiality and personal data protection. The implementation and operation of the harmonized EU-wide eCall will contribute each year to saving hundreds of lives, to reduce the severity of injuries and trauma caused by road accidents.”

The conference is attended by more than 200 delegates from emergency services, industry, mobile network operators, standardisation bodies etc. from over 40 countries in Europe, North America and Asia, officials of the European Parliament and of the European Commission as well as the Romanian institutions in charge. The topics are focused on the eCall implementation in the pilot sites, the interoperability between the eCall equipment to be installed in the vehicles, the various emergency calls centers and on the European standards revision.

Live practical demonstrations will be performed by the Special Telecommunications Service (Romania) engineers, with calls generated in Bucharest and the whole country, and with several eCall-equipped cars to be present in traffic.