Automatic crash notification (ACN) and advanced automatic crash notification (AACN) systems should be standard, no-cost safety features in all new vehicles, according to a new paper from members of the ACS Committee on Trauma (ACS COT). Published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, the paper argues that these technologies could shorten the critical interval between a motor vehicle crash and the initiation of emergency medical care.
ACN systems automatically alert emergency responders when a serious collision occurs and can transmit the vehicle’s location and crash timing, and, in some systems, establish two-way communication with occupants.
“Seat belts and air bags are standard because they are safety features, not luxury services. Automatic crash notification should be treated the same way,” said lead author Theresa L. Chin, MD, MPH, FACS, a trauma and burn surgeon at the University of California Irvine Health. “In a serious crash, the system can tell EMS where the crash happened and provide early signs of the severity of the crash and potential for significant injury. That can help the right resources start moving sooner, especially in rural communities where help may be farther away.”
This capability is particularly important when patients are unconscious, disoriented, or otherwise unable to call 911. AACN systems provide additional vehicle telemetry, including changes in speed, rollover events, air bag deployment, and restraint status, that can help estimate the likelihood of severe injury before EMS arrives.
For trauma systems, earlier and more detailed information could influence prehospital decision-making. Crash data may help EMS determine the number and type of resources required, including advanced life support, air medical transport, extrication equipment, or direct transport to a trauma center.
The authors cite previous National Highway Traffic Safety Administration modeling that estimated AACN technology could potentially save 360 to 721 lives annually.
The ACS COT argues that access to this technology should not depend on a driver's ability to maintain a subscription. Many manufacturers currently bundle crash notification with paid connected-vehicle services, meaning drivers may unknowingly lose the safety feature when a trial period or subscription ends.
The European Union, by comparison, has required automatic emergency notification systems in new vehicles since 2018 without requiring a paid subscription.
The authors also call for standardized crash-data definitions and transmission protocols across automakers, improved connectivity in rural areas, and reliable integration with 911 and EMS systems. Making deidentified crash data available for injury-prevention research could further improve understanding of crash mechanisms, EMS response, and injury patterns.
