Ireland is 'stalling' on crucial GPS

THE GOVERNMENT is “stalling” on the introduction of a global satellite positioning system (GPS), leading to unnecessary fatalities and injuries on Irish roads, the European Commission has been told. The eCall system uses GPS to identify and locate vehicles in the aftermath of a crash.

Irish MEP Jim Higgins has told the Commission that Ireland – along with other countries which are not making progress – should be compelled to introduce the system.

The system links GPS technology to the 112 or 999 phone numbers, meaning that, even if a driver is unconscious, the vehicle will automatically ring the emergency services and notify them of its location.

The system has the potential to save lives by locating crash victims within the “golden hour” after an incident, which emergency services say often makes the difference between life and death. It is particularly applicable to Ireland, where many road fatalities involve single vehicles leaving the road in rural areas, late at night.

However, despite the fact that the idea was launched by the Commission in 2004, it has accepted its original deadline of this year for the introduction of the system is not going to be met, mainly because of a lack of progress by a range of EU member states in configuring their emergency phone systems.

And while some member states are now pilot testing the system, it appears unlikely that the Commission’s second deadline of 2010 will be met. Last year, the European Parliament (EP) approved a resolution calling on 14 member states, including Ireland, which have yet to sign a memorandum of understanding on the issue, to do so.

Higgins, a member of the EP’s transport committee, said a lack of urgency “is leading to unnecessary fatalities”.

“Minister Dempsey won’t even sign an agreement saying Ireland will join the scheme. He has also indicated that the problem lies with Ireland’s emergency call centre being unable to handle the technology; this is despite the fact that Ireland should have a fully-functioning EU emergency number, 112, which the eCall system uses.

“The current scenario in Ireland will see people buying cars with eCall technology installed, but this will be worthless unless the Government installs the necessary technological infrastructure to cope. Given the lack of progress in Ireland and Minister Dempsey’s slow reaction to technological developments in the field of road safety, the European Commission must step up and compel Ireland to introduce the technology,” Higgins said.

However, the Department of Transport has denied it is dragging its feet. A spokeswoman said that 12 other states, including France and the UK, had not yet signed the memorandum.