All cars to have tracking devices from 2018

All cars and light vans in Europe will have to be fitted with automatic emergency calling devices from April 2018 under new rules approved by European Union lawmakers, aimed at cutting road deaths by 10% a year.

The so-called eCall device will automatically alert the nearest emergency centre in the event of a crash by calling the EU-wide emergency number 112, which will give authorities information such as the exact location and time of the crash and the number of passengers in the vehicle.

Members of the European Parliament in Strasbourg approved the law this week, meaning all car manufacturers have to ensure all passenger cars and light commercial vehicles are fitted with the devices by March 31, 2018.