Only 22% of European citizens know that 112 is the number to dial for the emergency services in any European Union member state, a new survey had found.
The survey for the European Commission found that most European citizens only know their own country’s emergency number and were not aware that 112 is applicable across the EU’s 27 countries.
A report into the survey says “there is significant room for national authorities to better inform their citizens and we are therefore calling on member states to boost awareness of 112.”
A motion has been called for in the European Parliament stating: “Improving awareness of 112 both inside a country, and when going abroad, is now the next logical step in ensuring effective implementation of 112, as only informed citizens will be able to make use of 112 in case of accidents.”
The EU would like to see 112 being the single emergency number across the EU, after 95% of respondents said this would be more useful.
EU telecoms commissioner, Viviane Reding, said: “An emergency number that functions effectively across the EU is a pivotal instrument for ensuring the safety of our citizens. Especially for travellers, safety in emergencies is the other side of the coin of the single market and the freedoms it offers. Citizens should be able to call the same emergency number wherever they are in Europe.
“So far, the Commission has focused its energy on ensuring that 112 is made available in all Member States. Now, the time has come to boost people’s awareness of 112 as the single emergency number they need to remember. I therefore call on all Member States to continue their efforts to make 112 a fully reliable service everywhere in Europe and to join in an active promotional campaign for 112.”
The number 112 has been around since 1991 and was mandated for all member states in 1998.
One in four people said they have needed to make an emergency calls on travel, but only 40% of respondents knew that 112 was an appropriate number.
The EU says that since 2003, telecoms operators must provide caller location information to the emergency services to allow them to locate and find victims of accidents in time. EU member states must also ensure that citizens are kept informed about the existence and purpose of the 112 number.
Link
Results of the Flash Eurobarometer survey
European Parliament initiatives on 112
Joe Fernandez