SMMT News

UK’s world-leading transport facility launches new vehicle safety test service

13 June 2012 #SMMT News

innovITS ADVANCE, the collaboration between innovITS, MIRA Ltd and the UK’s internationally recognised Transport Research Laboratory (TRL), has today launched a new testing service for eCall safety technology, which is being more widely adopted across Europe.

The eCall technology aims to improve road safety by automatically communicating with the emergency services in the event of an accident, even if the driver and passengers are unable to speak due to injury. In such circumstances the system automatically transmits a minimum data set including the exact location of the crash site and identification of the vehicle, leading to reduced emergency service response time. In addition, when a driver or passenger in an eCall equipped car witnesses an accident, they can report it and automatically summon assistance while giving precise location information, all at the push of a button.

With eCall being adopted across many EU member states, innovITS ADVANCE is launching a unique and comprehensive testing capability for vehicles equipped with this new safety technology. The launch took place today at the organisation’s facility based at MIRA’s Nuneaton headquarters.

innovITS CEO, Phil Pettitt, said, “eCall is an important European technology initiative which aims to improve the emergency response time to road traffic accidents and one which is increasingly likely to be incorporated as standard fitment to vehicles marketed within Europe. Through the innovITS Advance eCall test facility that we have launched today, we hope to contribute by offering the first and only true end to end test capability by virtue of our extensive network of urban roads, fully controllable private GSM network, Skyclone GNSS attenuation and denial system, and e112 public service access point.”

Visitors at the launch were shown a demonstration of the innovITS ADVANCE eCall test capability through a simulated collision triggering an ‘eCall’ across the facility’s private GSM network and e112 public service access point (PSAP).

To find out more, visit the innovITS ADVANCE website.

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