On January 20, a traffic accident involving foreign drivers in Lithuania was reported through the emergency number, highlighting the effectiveness of the automatic eCall system and the challenges posed by language barriers.
On the morning of January 20, the General Emergency Center in Lithuania received an automatic 'eCall' notification following a traffic accident involving a Latvian registered 'Škoda Octavia' and a Polish registered 'Fiat' minibus. The incident occurred in the vicinity of the town of Vidiškiai, where the driver of the Fiat, a 35-year-old Polish citizen, failed to maintain a safe distance and collided with the Škoda, driven by a 59-year-old Latvian. Fortunately, no physical injuries were reported as a result of the collision.
The event illustrated the effectiveness of the automatic emergency calling system in responding promptly to accidents, as the collision was sufficiently severe for the sensors in the Škoda to trigger an emergency call to 112. Although the responsible party acknowledged their mistake, the situation was complicated by a language barrier, with one driver speaking English and the other speaking Russian. Police officers who arrived at the scene were able to clarify the circumstances of the accident, assist in bridging the communication gap, and help the drivers fill out the necessary accident report.
This incident not only underscores the importance of effective communication during emergencies but also highlights how technology, like the eCall system, can play a vital role in immediate assistance. Events such as this raise awareness about the challenges faced by foreign drivers and the need for multilingual support in such situations to ensure quick and efficient resolution of incidents.
