From next Saturday (31 March), automobile manufacturers will equip all new car types with eCall, a system that automatically dials emergency services in the event of a serious road traffic accident.

In a statement, the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) said it welcomed this milestone, "which has been made possible thanks to huge investments by the industry".

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"eCall has the potential to save many lives by shortening the reaction time of emergency services. This means that ambulances, fire engines and the police can intervene as quickly as possible within the 'golden hour' after a collision," said ACEA secretary general, Erik Jonnaert.

"The rollout of eCall is just one of many developments designed to limit the effects of road accidents," Jonnaert added.

"Looking towards the future, 'active safety' technologies – which can prevent accidents from happening at all – offer massive potential to further improve road safety, for example by automatically intervening when a driver fails to react in time."

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ACEA also called for an integrated approach to safety, combining further improvements in vehicle technology with improved driver training, better road design and maintenance, and the enforcement of existing traffic regulations.

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On 28 April 2015, the European Parliament voted in favour of eCall regulation which required all new cars be equipped with the eCall technology from April 2018. In the event of a serious accident, eCall automatically dials 112 – Europe's single emergency number.

It communicates the vehicle's exact location to emergency services, the time of incident and the direction of travel (most important on motorways), even if the driver is unconscious or unable to make a phone call. An eCall can also be triggered manually by pushing a button in the car, for example by a witness of a serious accident. eCall will transmit the data that is absolutely necessary in case of accident. Information only leaves the car in the event of a severe accident and is not stored any longer than necessary.

The commission estimated that, once the system was fully implemented, eCall could save hundreds of lives every year and help injured people quicker.

The European Commission proposed the eCall regulation in June 2013.