Automatic motor vehicle accident reporting

A method of operating a motor vehicle, the method comprising:

• capturing images of an environment surrounding the motor vehicle;
• producing a microphone signal based on sounds in a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle;
• determining a global position of the motor vehicle;
• detecting a user actuating a switch;
• and
• causing an accident reporting signal to be wirelessly transmitted in response to the detecting step, the accident reporting signal being dependent upon:
• the images captured of the environment surrounding the motor vehicle;
• the global position of the motor vehicle;
• and
• the microphone signal, wherein the accident reporting signal is dependent upon sounds in the passenger compartment that occur after the user actuates the switch a first time, but is not dependent upon sounds in the passenger compartment that occur before the user actuates the switch the first time, and is not dependent upon sounds in the passenger compartment that occur after the user actuates the switch a second time, the second time being after the first time.

A motor vehicle emergency reporting arrangement for a motor vehicle, the arrangement comprising:

• at least one camera configured to capture images of an environment surrounding the motor vehicle;
• a microphone positioned to produce a microphone signal based on sounds in a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle;
• a global positioning system configured to determine a global position of the motor vehicle;
• and
• an electronic processor communicatively coupled to each of the at least one camera, the microphone, and the global positioning system, the electronic processor being configured to cause an emergency reporting signal to be wirelessly transmitted in response to a prompt from the user, the emergency resorting signal being dependent upon:
• the images captured by the at least one camera;
• the global position of the motor vehicle;
• and
• the microphone signal, wherein the emergency reporting signal is dependent upon sounds in the passenger compartment that occur after the user provides the prompt, but is not dependent upon sounds in the passenger compartment that occur before the user provides the prompt, and wherein the prompt comprises a first prompt, the emergency reporting signal not being dependent upon sounds in the passenger compartment that occur after the user provides a second prompt, the second prompt being after the first prompt.