Citroen eTouch emergency panic button calls cops automatically

Citroen's developed a panic button for its Citroen C4, C5 and DS3 cars. The eTouch Emergency & Assistance system consists of a ceiling-mounted button, which when pressed causes the car to contact the emergency services.

The eTouch system is able to make SOS calls thanks to an integrated SIM card and a GPS system. In the event of an accident, the eTouch system sends the exact location of your stricken car to the Citroen Urgence call centre. Once connected, you'll be put through to an operator who will assess your situation, give you advice, or call the emergency services.

In the event of a serious accident, where the vehicle suffers severe deceleration and the airbags are deployed, the car takes matters into its own hands wheels electronic gubbins. It automatically sends an SMS to the Citroen call centre, giving the exact location and time of impact, as well as the last ten known positions of the vehicle to establish the direction of travel. The system then automatically establishes a voice connection between the car and the call centre.

If the occupants are unconscious or otherwise unable to respond, the call centre immediately notifies the emergency services, providing information about the location of the accident and what type of car you're driving.

Citroen says the eTouch system is designed primarily to assist drivers who are involved in serious and potentially fatal accidents that occur in remote areas where there may be nobody around to call for help.

The company believes if all cars were equipped with an emergency call system such as eTouch, some 2,500 lives could be saved every year in Europe and the number of people severely injured reduced by up to 15 per cent.

The eTouch Emergency & Assistance system will be available on the Citroen C4, DS3 and Citroen C5 immediately, and will be available on the C3, C3 Picasso and C4 Picasso from November 2010.