In an era of high-tech everything, you can expect the unexpected.
This was the surprise when dispatchers at Cape Town’s emergency services received a call from the BMW SOS call centre in Germany about an accident on a Cape Town road that happened mere minutes ago.
This was revealed at a recent meet of the City’s safety and security portfolio.
“It was notable and rather interesting to know that the first call for help came from Germany,” says Rheinardt Bresler, a member of the portfolio committee.
The German car manufacturer’s SOS emergency call centre was reportedly the first to respond to the accident – a head-on collision on the Klipheuwel road involving an elderly woman driving a BMW X1.
The accident took place between Stellenbosch and Durbanville on Thursday 21 September.
“I was on my way home and the road ahead of me was clear. There were no cars in front of me, when suddenly a taxi appeared from the oncoming lane right in front of me as he overtook the car in front of him. I don’t remember much, I just saw the taxi and the next moment heard the crash and saw glass shattering,” says the woman who does not want her name mentioned. She was alone in the vehicle.
Renny Bester from BMW Tygervalley BMW explains how the system works.
“Every BMW vehicle is fitted with a standard SOS system. An impact sensor in the car picks up when an accident occurs. The intelligent emergency call then automatically contacts the BMW call centre in Germany in case of an accident to activate the chain of rescue as quickly as possible and – if possible – to establish initial contact with the victim. The call centre operator will phone the car and should the driver not answer, it is assumed that he or she is unconscious whereupon the would call the emergency services of the city where the accident took place.”
The driver of the car who does not want her name mentioned says she is beyond thankful that she was in a safe car. She escaped serious injury and is recovering from back pain and whiplash. The car however was wrecked.
“As the air bags opened onto my chest I lost my breath and struggled to get it back, but did not lose consciousness.
I was supported on the scene by two women before the ambulance came. I remember their names, Wendy and Marianka to who I am very thankfull too. When I look at my car I realise how lucky I was, and am thankful that help arrived so quickly,” she says.
