Two-thirds of motorists heading abroad don’t know what number to ring for help in an emergency

999? 111? 112? Motorists confused over what to dial and when

UK drivers venturing to the continent this summer could find themselves in difficulty after new data shows that most don’t know the three-digit phone number to call the emergency services when in the European Union.

Each year Brits take nearly six million trips in their own cars across the Channel* with the majority doing so in the summer months. Yet worryingly, nearly two-thirds (62%) of motorists surveyed by RAC European Breakdown** don’t know the correct number to dial for pan-European emergency assistance, with just 38% saying they would call 112.

Ten per cent of respondents thought that they could dial 111 in an emergency while in Europe – this is the NHS non-emergency line in the UK – while 6% said they would call 911, the emergency number for the United States and Canada, to seek help. And 5% said they thought 101 was the number to call, when that is actually the UK non-emergency police line.

RAC European breakdown operations manager David Huggon said: “We all recognise 999 as the main emergency phone number in the UK, but it appears that once we’ve left the country we leave our knowledge of who to ring in an emergency behind too.

“The 112 number works right across the EU, including the UK. But it doesn’t get a lot of promotion – certainly not in Britain, where we have 999 anyway, but not a great deal in continental Europe either, although electronic motorway signage in some countries including France is used to remind drivers. So as well as having a quality European breakdown policy in place, motorists driving abroad would do well to keep a note of this emergency number handy.

“Drivers need not be concerned about language barriers either, as in many cases dialling 112 will put you through to an English-speaking call handler while abroad.”

Aside from a lack of publicity about 112 this side of the Channel, the RAC also believes that newer three-digit phone numbers in the UK might be causing some people to mix their numbers up.

David continued: “The 101 and 111 phone numbers were introduced in the UK to make it easier for people to remember how to contact the police and NHS in a non-emergency situation, but when you factor in 112 as well, it appears that people are getting confused over which number to dial.

“Each year, the RAC attends thousands of summer breakdowns in continental Europe, with the majority taking place in France. But while buying a comprehensive breakdown policy for a driving trip abroad should be on the to-do list for every driver leaving the UK, our data shows it is a good idea to remember 112, too.”

Know your numbers

Driving abroad is popular with Britons, with the flexibility of taking a car and the enjoyment of motoring on the continent cited as the two of the biggest reasons over taking another form of transport. The RAC offers a wide range of advice to motorists taking their own vehicle to continental Europe, as well as Defaqto five-star rated comprehensive European breakdown cover. For more information, visit www.rac.co.uk/breakdown-cover/european-breakdown-cover.

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Notes to Editors
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*Source: ONS, Travel Trends http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/ott/travel-trends/2014/index.html. Latest available figures for 2014 indicate 5.987 million private vehicles visits to Europe

**Source: RAC Motorists’ Panel, July 2015

***NHS Direct Wales currently operates in Wales (0845 46 47), but is anticipated to switch to 111 in October 2015

The non-emergency police number 101 was phased in from 2009, and 111 for reaching the NHS in a non-emergency situation came in during 2014.

Research by UK region

What phone number would you dial in the EU for emergency assistance?

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