Maltese among least aware of EU-wide emergency number 112

More than eight out of every 10 Maltese citizens do not know what number to call in an emergency such as an accident or fire, according to an EU-wide survey.

In the last five years, only 13 per cent of Maltese respondents had to make an emergency call, the lowest level in the EU where the average is 25 per cent.

The results of a "112 emergency number" survey conducted last month were published by the European Commission in Brussels yesterday.

Asked what number they would dial in an emergency, 84 per cent of the Maltese respondents said they didn't know.

The member states that are worse off than Malta are Cyprus (85 per cent), Italy (91 per cent) and Greece (94 per cent).

Asked whether they had come across any information about the 112 number, only 27 per cent of respondents answered positively while 71 per cent could not remember a TV spot or and advert regarding the number.

Conducted by the Gallup Organisation with a sample of some 1,500 participants from each member state, the survey showed that only 22 per cent of EU citizens could spontaneously identify the number to call for emergency services anywhere in the EU.

This was in spite of the fact that 95 per cent of EU citizens agree that having a single emergency number available everywhere in the EU is useful.

Two out of three respondents believe people are not adequately informed about 112.

Even in those instances where people know that 112 is a national emergency number, only 22 per cent are aware they can call the same number for all emergency services, and from anywhere in the EU.

Commenting on the results, European Telecoms Commissioner Viviane Reding said an emergency number that functions effectively across the EU is a pivotal instrument for ensuring the safety of EU citizens.

"So far, the Commission has focused its energy on ensuring that 112 is made available in all member states.

"The time has come to boost people's awareness of 112 as the single emergency number they need to remember.

"I, therefore, call on all member states to continue their efforts to make 112 a fully reliable service everywhere in Europe and to join in an active promotional campaign for 112," she said.

Since 1998, EU legislation required member states to ensure that all end-users of fixed and mobile services can call the emergency services free of charge using the 112 number.

Telecoms operators must provide caller location information to the emergency services to allow them to locate and find victims of accidents in time.

According to the Commission, Malta is in line with its "112" directives and all these services are fully available on the island through the island's telecom operators.