Launched by Information Society and Media Commissioner Viviane Reding at the Frankfurt car motorshow on 14 September, the 'intelligent car' project is part of the Commission's wider i2010 initiative to promote information and communication technologies (ICT) in Europe.
In a drive to promote intelligent vehicle safety systems, the Commission is also backing the development of automatic emergency call technology, which it predicts will reduce road accident fatalities by 5-10% within the next five years (see EurActiv 13 December 2004). An action plan agreed by the Commission and car manufacturers in February 2005 states that all new cars in Europe will be equipped with eCall technology by 2009. However, Commissioner Reding is concerned that the infrastructure upgrades needed to introduce the technology remain behind schedule in several member states.
On 15 September 2003 the Commission presented a set of measures to develop safer and more intelligent vehicles with the aim of halving the number of deaths from road accidents by 2010.
