Current Event: European cars will automatically call emergency services after a crash

Cars in member countries of the European Union will now have an emergency call feature installed in them beginning in March 31st, 2018. The emergency system is known as eCall and would automatically contact emergency services in the event of a crash. In-car sensors, such as the car's airbags being triggered, would activate eCall and contact emergency services. eCall will be free of charge but would cost manufacturers 100 euros per car to have it installed. The EU expects eCall to lower emergency response time by 40 percent in areas with large amounts of traffic and 50 percent in rural areas. Several member states of the EU have voiced their objection to making eCall compulsory, believing that, ' the benefit of making eCall mandatory in all new cars does not justify the cost of implementing it." In any case, Erick Jonnaert of the European Automobile Manufacturer's Association has voiced that, "the industry feels that the final text strikes a good balance between saving lives and protecting data."

http://www.theverge.com/2015/4/29/8512845/ecall-europe-emergency-call-2018