Under The Hood: Automotive Storytelling

When Technology Saves Lives: Joe Custer, CEO at Intrado - S2E04

β€’ Stephane Lagresle β€’ Season 2 β€’ Episode 4

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0:00 | 36:38

🚨 THE COLLISION-TO-CARE REVOLUTION   

In this compelling episode of "Automotive Storytelling" – the only podcast examining mobility through storytelling, brought to you by The Storytelling Tribe – we connect with Joe Custer, CEO of Intrado, the company that invented modern 9-1-1, to explore how data-rich vehicle communications can save over 2000 lives annually. From two Boulder County sheriff's deputies who solved a location problem ~50 years ago to the forefront of Next Generation 9-1-1 and emergency response, Joe reveals why every second after a crash is a battle between technology and time.


🎯 KEY INSIGHTS

The 12-Minute Problem: When Call Centers Cost Lives
Joe reveals how current crash notifications route through OEM concierge call centers, creating 12+ minute delays that increase mortality by 46% compared to a 5-minute intervention. Next Generation AACN can cut response times by nearly 70%.

The Severity Score Standard: One Language for Every Brand
Discover how GM, Ford, Toyota, and Honda are collaborating with NENA and APCO to create a unified crash severity calculation, so that a "7 out of 10" means the same thing regardless of which vehicle model you drive. 

The Autonomous Trust Factor: No Driver, No Problem
Learn why automated emergency response becomes even more critical in the autonomous era, where driverless vehicles must communicate crashes directly to first responders through the dedicated, public-safety-grade ESInet network.

πŸ’‘ PRACTICAL TAKEAWAYS

  • Standardize the Severity Score: Adopt the updated VEDS 3.1 standard so every brand communicates crash data in a consistent, actionable format
  • Lead with the Consumer Mandate: 94% of drivers support sharing vehicle data for safety; 70% say AACN would influence their next vehicle purchase β€” use this in your messaging
  • Follow the European Playbook: Europe's eCall mandate reduced emergency response times by 40–50% and saves an estimated 2,500 lives annually β€” the proof of concept already exists

🌟 ABOUT YOUR GUIDE

Joe Custer brings nearly 30 years of leadership in finance, strategy, and corporate development to his role as CEO of Intrado β€” the company that handles roughly 90% of all U.S. 9-1-1 requests. Having served as CFO and SVP of Operations, Joe led the strategic transformation of emergency services infrastructure and now champions the modernization of the 9-1-1 ecosystem through Advanced Automatic Collision Notification (AACN).

Ready to discover the stories behind the steering wheel? 

https://www.intrado.com/

https://www.intrado.com/news-releases/intrado-and-sbd-automotive-demonstrate-how-advanced-automatic-collision-notification-aacn-could-save-more-than-2000-lives-annually

"Under the Hood: Automotive Storytelling" uncovers the human narratives driving innovation in an industry that impacts lives worldwide. Hosted by StΓ©phane Lagresle, this podcast explores how the power of storytelling ultimately connects technology to humans.