ATX Studies Potential Role for Telematics in Natural Emergencies

Social Network of Telematics Drivers to Share Real-Time, Location-Based Experiences with Others

DALLAS, Dec. 19 -- ATX Group, the world's largest international, independent telematics services provider to the automotive industry, is launching a study on whether a virtual, social network of telematics-enabled drivers may be able to play a more beneficial role in helping emergency response planners assess in real-time the scope of a natural emergency and how to respond to it.

Based on the number of unsolicited, location-specific calls ATX received from its telematics subscribers during the recent breakout of wildfires in southern California, ATX wants to explore with state emergency services officials the value of eyewitness information, not involving injuries, from telematics-enabled drivers whose location is automatically transmitted with their call. The project would be aligned with ATX's T3 (third generation) telematics program that uses its base of telematics subscribers as a social "traveler's aid" network to share real-time, location-enabled travel information and recommendations among themselves.

"What we experienced particularly with the California wildfires were instances when subscribers notified us as "Good Samaritans" about roadways that had suddenly been closed by firefighters, dense smoke reducing visibility on highways, and whether anyone knew that flames had reached a specific roadway or location," said Gary Wallace, ATX vice president of corporate relations. "We also notice when natural disasters occur that 9-1-1 centers and emergency dispatchers are generally overwhelmed with calls, some involving potentially life-threatening situations. We want to explore with state officials whether we need to be encouraging our customers to essentially be probes in the field, or roving reporters, for emergency responders during a natural emergency. And, if so, what's the best way to quickly relay this cumulative information to emergency planners, emergency responders or highway departments without adding a burden to 9-1-1 call centers handling life and death calls."

Wallace said the California wildfires were only the most recent example of "Good Samaritan" telematics drivers providing real-time, location-specific information about fast-changing circumstances during a natural event. Other instances have included drivers reporting blowing snow, black ice, slippery bridges, dense fog, hail, downed power lines or trees, high water over roadways, potential funnel clouds and motorists stuck in a snow bank. During hurricane evacuations, drivers have used their ATX telematics-equipped vehicles to report incidences of stalled or disabled cars, drivers stranded along the roadway, and lack of gasoline availability or hotel vacancies in an area. On a more frequent basis, telematics motorists provide exact locations along a roadway of dead or injured wildlife or farm animals, stray or injured pets, and large obstructions in the roadway such as furniture, potholes, tire debris or materials spilled from trucks.

"Since this information is provided in real-time by a specific network of drivers with accurate location data, we're obviously looking at this as an opportunity in which, let's say, our BMW drivers assist other BMW drivers with timely travel information and recommendations," Wallace added. "This, in essence, represents the beginning of the telematics-based social networking that we've predicted will become part of T3, or third-generation telematics."

Introduced last year in an address by ATX President and CEO Steve Millstein at the Fully Networked Car event at the Geneva auto show, T3 applications and technology are designed to make telematics a daily part of life and transition the telematics market from relying solely on event-driven incidences such as airbag deployments.

"We are very interested in learning whether the virtual, social network we're creating among our own customers will produce valuable information to those who help shape a broad response to natural emergencies," added Wallace.

ABOUT ATX: Based in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, and Dusseldorf, Germany, ATX Group is the world's largest provider of customized telematics services to the automotive industry, serving both North America and Europe. ATX telematics services are designed to provide enhanced safety, security and driving convenience to vehicle owners. These services include location-specific emergency and roadside assistance, automatic collision notification, stolen vehicle recovery, remote diagnostics and real-time traffic and navigation assistance. ATX also customizes telematics services to help automobile manufacturers and their affiliated dealerships to use telematics data to reduce costs, enhance vehicle servicing, and more closely manage customer relationships. ATX services are provided to vehicle owners through the brand names of its customers -- Mercedes-Benz, BMW, PSA Peugeot Citroen, Maybach, and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. For more information, visit www.atxg.com.