Liow: Govt studying proposal for emergency call device in new vehicles

KUALA LUMPUR: The Transport Ministry is looking at introducing an emergency call device on all vehicles next year as part of the government’s measure to boost the safety of motorists.

Its minister, Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, said the ministry received a proposal on the matter last week and was studying it.

“It is pending a decision,” he told the New Straits Times yesterday.

Liow, however, did not provide further detail on the proposal.

The installation of the device will boost emergency services in the event of accidents, thefts or other road mishaps.

The proposal is said to be similar to the e-Call alert system implemented in the European Union countries, which aimed to help ambulance crew reach accident sites faster.

The system, if implemented, will be standardised for all new cars and light vans from March 31 next year.

The e-Call device would alert emergency services automatically via an emergency number.

Basic data such as type of vehicle, time of accident and location would be provided to the emergency services.

BBC had reported that the information would only be transferred when serious accidents occurred and the airbag sensors were set off. This would then send information to the emergency rescue services.

Similar safety feature has also been utilised by e-hailing services, such as Uber and Grab, whereby an emergency button would enable passengers to alert the Malaysia Emergency Response Service.