You may have noticed a button in your car with a phone symbol and the letters SOS on it. It’s usually on the ceiling, near the rear-view mirror. Ever wondered what it does? Well, it’s a critical, potentially life-saving safety feature that’s been mandatory in all cars sold in the UK since 2018. Known as eCall, it connects the car to the emergency services, giving them its location and some idea of what the problem is.
With that information, the emergency services can get to the car quicker and knowing what help you’re likely to need. In cases of life-threatening injury, you’re much more likely to survive if you start receiving treatment within the first hour. By getting help to casualties quicker, its been estimated that eCall could save 2,500 lives annually across Europe.
Recent reports suggest that UK drivers aren’t especially familiar with what the SOS button does and how to use it. If you’re one of them, worry not because you’re in the right place to find out everything you need to know.
When should I press the SOS button?
You should only press the SOS button if you have a crash or a medical issue that requires help from the emergency services. Press it and the car’s built-in phone connects you to the local emergency services call centre. At the same time, GPS sends the car’s exact location to the operator, so you don’t need to know where you are at the time.
You’ll be asked some questions to ascertain what the problem is and what help is needed. If you’re unable to respond, for instance if you’ve fallen unconscious since pressing the button, the operator will send all three services – police, fire and ambulance – to the car.
You can also press the SOS button if you witness a crash or any other incident that requires the emergency services. It’s much quicker than fumbling for your phone though, of course, you shouldn’t use your mobile while driving, anyway. The eCall system also has better signal coverage than the mobile phone networks.
If you’re teaching your children how to make emergency calls, you should also tell them how to use your car’s SOS button.
And absolutely do not press the SOS button if your car has broken down. That’s not what the eCall system is for.
What happens if I can’t press the button?
An SOS call is made automatically when any of the car’s airbags are deployed. Not only will the car’s location be sent to the operator, they’ll also receive data on how many airbags have deployed, possibly also the severity of the impact and how many people are in the car. With that information, the emergency services will know what to expect when they arrive at the scene.
The operator will speak to you to find out what happened and what injuries you may have. You should also provide any other relevant information, for instance if other cars are involved. If you have a first-aid kit in the car, the operator may be able to advise on how to treat yourself before help arrives. If you can’t respond, the operator will send all the emergency services out to you.
Didn’t Vauxhall have its own version of this?
Correct. In 2015, Vauxhall cars got access to Onstar Europe, a service set up by the brand’s parent company, General Motors. SOS calls were just one of the services offered when you pressed the Onstar button. You could also, for instance, ask the operator for a restaurant recommendation along your route and they would send the address to the car’s sat nav.
Onstar Europe closed down in December 2020 when Vauxhall was rolled into the Stellantis group. However, the Onstar button still functions for SOS calls.
What happens if I accidentally press the SOS button?
This could happen if you’re prodding for the interior light button. When you press the SOS button, you see and/or hear a message saying ‘connecting you to an emergency call centre’. That gives you a few seconds to cancel the call with the phone button on the steering wheel. If the call connects before you get a chance to do that, promptly apologise to the operator and hang up.
Anything else I need to know?
Your car’s SOS button and eCall system will still work if you drive in Europe. The call will go through the 112 service, the Europe-wide number that automatically connects you with a local emergency services call centre.
Some cars have other call buttons, as well. For instance, some luxury cars have one that connects the driver to the manufacturer’s dedicated concierge service. The possibilities vary between manufacturers but the service may be able to do everything from find somewhere you can stop for a coffee, to getting sought-after theatre tickets.
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