Just as we had all begun to accept the unavoidable reality that some mobiles, such as those of the auto and phone varieties, were forever incompatible, along comes the European Commission to tell us otherwise.

For many months we have been lectured, chastised and coerced. Using your mobile while driving, we have been told, is even more dangerous than drinking and driving.

Reaction speeds slow significantly. Concentration is seriously impaired.

There are, it seems, few irresponsibilities so great. Few stupidities more heinous.

Keep your mobile away from your car has been the inescapable message.

Until, that is, this week.

Because now the European Commission are suggesting that rather than killing people, mobile phones in cars could save up to 2,500 lives every year.

The reason is eCall, described by Rob Conway of the GSMA as “a hugely beneficial and logical step forward in EU policy-makers' attempts to reduce fatalities on European roads.”

Should your car have a serious accident eCall will automatically dial 112, Europe's single emergency number, and send your location, your direction of travel and your vehicle identification information to the nearest emergency service, even if you do not know or cannot say where you are.

As the Commission explains, “To fully deploy eCall, Europe's car and telecoms industries and national administrations in all EU countries, must ensure that their emergency services, especially call centres, are equipped to handle eCalls.”

Your car will also need to be fitted with the necessary equipment. So we are probably some years and no small expense away from eCall becoming commonplace.

Even so the Commission claims that were all 230 million cars in the EU to be equipped with eCall, no less than €26 billion could be saved from the annual road accident bill of €160 billion.

What’s more, according to the Commission, the technology is ready and common pan-EU standards have been agreed by both industry and emergency services in 15 EU countries. A further 6 EU countries have also said they are willing to sign the agreement.

However that still leaves 6 countries yet to commit allegedly for cost reasons including, needless to say if cost is the reason, the UK.

For those who worry about civil liberties that might provide some small relief. After all, although eCall could save your life, it could also make it very much easier for the authorities to constantly track your movements.

The Commission themselves admit “the eCall system will also make it easier to manage road traffic congestion and to install services like satellite navigation in cars.”

In other words, plans for eCall go beyond simple road safety.

How much further is not stated. But neither is mention made of what measures, if any, will be put in place to protect personal privacy.

Inevitably the implications will be discussed at another time and in another place.

But not, we trust, by anybody on their mobile while driving.