A new system to enhance emergency vehicle communications has been approved by the UAE Cabinet. The e-Call system, designed to significantly reduce emergency response times, is expected to improve road safety across the nation by decreasing response times by 40%.
According to a Khaleej Times report, the e-Call system, which activates automatically upon detecting a serious accident through in-vehicle sensors, sends an emergency message directly to the police. This message includes essential details such as the vehicle model, location, fuel type, and the number of passengers.
Originally introduced in Abu Dhabi in 2021, the updated e-Call system aims to lower road fatalities by 2 to 10 percent and serious injuries by 2 to 15 percent. The system’s rapid response capability ensures emergency services can reach the accident site within four minutes.
Despite these advancements, road fatalities in the UAE saw a 3 percent increase last year, with 352 deaths in 2023 compared to 343 in 2022. However, this figure is still an improvement from the 381 fatalities recorded in 2021.
The e-Call system, developed by the UAE Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) in collaboration with police authorities, also includes a manual activation option for passengers to contact emergency services.