Motorcycling is an inherently dangerous activity, and recognising that fact, BMW Motorrad has come up with an “Intelligent Emergency Call” (IEC) system for motorcycles, which aims to get help to the scene of an accident or emergency as soon as possible.
Developed from the pan-European eCall trial involving BMW vehicles back in 2011, the system has proved itself by letting emergency services respond more quickly and get to the scene of the accident 40 to 50% faster. The vehicle system, called “eCall”, was first implemented in BMW cars in 1999.
Since then, BMW extended this safety system by establishing an intelligent and cross-border call centre infrastructure across Europe in 2007. With the eCall system becoming mandatory in all new cars in Europe, BMW Motorrad is offering the system in all its motorcycles as an option beginning in 2017.
Requiring only a connection to a mobile phone operator to activate, the IEC can be triggered automatically or manually, sending the motorcycle’s location to a BMW Qualified Call centre, which will then notify emergency services and co-ordinate rescue.
The system takes into account three emergency scenarios – automatic triggering in the case of a bad fall or collision, a minor fall, and manual activation of the ICE. In the case of a major accident involving the rider and motorcycle, the system activates without any delay. For a minor collision, there is a lag time of 25 seconds before the signal is sent, allowing the rider to over-ride the IEC if damage is minor.
Should the rider witness an accident or require emergency help, the IEC can be activated with the push of a button, which immediately notifies the call centre. In the case of non-emergency situations, such as if the motorcycle falls over when stationary or with the engine off, the ICE is not triggered.
Sensors on the motorcycle relay information to the IEC, notably the lean angle sensors and an acceleration sensor. The IEC has a built-in loudspeaker and microphone, which allows the rider to communicate with the call centre without having to use his or her mobile phone. The system is guarded against accidental activation by a flip-up cover.
BMW Motorrad has not released any details on the price of the optional IEC system, or if it will work outside of the European Union. However, having the IEC on the bike will go a long way towards making riding safer, provided you are within the coverage area.
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- BMW K 1600 GTL (02/2011)
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