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Dubai Police and BMW launch in-car emergency service

DUBAI - Dubai Police, in partnership with BMW Group, yesterday announced the launch of BMW Assist, an emergency and SOS service which gives drivers a direct voice link to a Dubai Police Emergency Centre when something unforeseen happens. This service, being introduced for the first time in the Middle East, creates a direct voice-link with the emergency police control centre, enabling the situation to be explained.

The motorist can access the service by pressing the SOS button, located above the central iDrive controller, or selecting Emergency Service via the on-board monitor. If the worst happens, the 'Emergency SOS Call' facility is automatically activated in a crash via the airbag sensor, ensuring that action can be taken quickly Ð even if the driver is unable to make a voice connection.

Regardless of whether activation of the SOS call is manual or automatic the vehicle's data and GPS position is forwarded to the police Emergency Centre by SMS. An SMS receive-station, designed by Dubai Police engineers, translates the information contained in the SMS to geographical information and illustrates the accurate position of the vehicle on a satellite map of UAE. The relevant local rescue services can then be alerted. The police, ambulance and fire brigade will be able to locate the vehicle precisely and get to it without delay.

In the event of an 'Emergency SOS Call' being made in Dubai, the Dubai Police Information Reception System automatically locates the police patrol responsible for the area in which the emergency has taken place.

"It will make a major contribution to promoting effective communication between Dubai Police and drivers involved in an accident or other emergency, enabling the police and other emergency services to respond faster than before to any emergency," said Lt. General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, Commandant General, Dubai Police.

"Through our partnership with BMW Group, Dubai Police is again demonstrating its strong commitment to provide the highest levels of safety and security on the roads and its determination to enhance the services it provides to the public. "Although the 'Emergency SOS Call' service is currently only available with BMW cars, Dubai Police engineers have designed a system capable of receiving information from all cars fitted with GPS. We call on automotive importers to cordinate with our engineers in the Telecom Management and Electronic Development department to learn how to implement this service in their vehicles, as it is of upmost importance to drivers in the UAE," Lt General Dhahi Khalfan added at Press conference at Dubai Police General Headquarters.

BMW Assist is available with any BMW model fitted with the BMW Professional Navigation system with an on-board monitor, in-built telephone and DVD navigation computer. To activate the BMW Assist service the driver must insert their Etisalat GSM phone chip into the in-built car phone and turn on the system.

The service will be available, in BMW 3, 5, 6 and 7 Series, Z4 and X3 and X5 vehicles, from March. "BMW Assist helps in crucial situations," said Robert Bailey-McEwan, Managing Director, BMW Group Middle East.