Electromechanical safety gear device for elevator apparatus that can be electronically activated for the emergency braking of a car longitudinally movable along a guide, the device comprising: - an engagement block integral with the car, in turn comprising: - a central rail for housing the guide, - a side arresting element movable perpendicular to a side of the central rail, and - a braking element movable with respect to the central rail and coupleable to the guide for braking and arresting the car, the device further comprising: - an activation mechanism that can be electronically actuated, - an activation plate movable with respect to the guide and operable by the activation mechanism, in turn having a guiding mechanism, and - a guiding element of the braking element coupleable with the guiding mechanism and movable by said guiding mechanism in a direction essentially parallel to the guide, the device being characterized in that the activation plate additionally comprises a movable friction element for defining relative positions of the activation plate with respect to the guide: - a standby position, in which the activation mechanism keeps the activation plate spaced from the guide, - an active position, in which the activation mechanism moves the activation plate towards the guide for contacting the friction element with the guide, and - a braking position, in which a relative movement of the guide with respect to the car causes a movement of the friction element, in turn leading to the following sequence of actuation: - the guiding element contacting the guide, - the guiding element moving along the guiding mechanism due to friction with the guide, and - the braking element being driven by the guiding element until engagement with the arresting element. - an engagement block integral with the car, in turn comprising: - a central rail for housing the guide, - a side arresting element movable perpendicular to a side of the central rail, and - a braking element movable with respect to the central rail and coupleable to the guide for braking and arresting the car, the device further comprising: - an activation mechanism that can be electronically actuated, - an activation plate movable with respect to the guide and operable by the activation mechanism, in turn having a guiding mechanism, and - a guiding element of the braking element coupleable with the guiding mechanism and movable by said guiding mechanism in a direction essentially parallel to the guide, - a central rail for housing the guide, - a side arresting element movable perpendicular to a side of the central rail, and - a braking element movable with respect to the central rail and coupleable to the guide for braking and arresting the car, - an activation mechanism that can be electronically actuated, - an activation plate movable with respect to the guide and operable by the activation mechanism, in turn having a guiding mechanism, and - a guiding element of the braking element coupleable with the guiding mechanism and movable by said guiding mechanism in a direction essentially parallel to the guide, - a standby position, in which the activation mechanism keeps the activation plate spaced from the guide, - an active position, in which the activation mechanism moves the activation plate towards the guide for contacting the friction element with the guide, and - a braking position, in which a relative movement of the guide with respect to the car causes a movement of the friction element, in turn leading to the following sequence of actuation: - the guiding element contacting the guide, - the guiding element moving along the guiding mechanism due to friction with the guide, and - the braking element being driven by the guiding element until engagement with the arresting element. - the guiding element contacting the guide, - the guiding element moving along the guiding mechanism due to friction with the guide, and - the braking element being driven by the guiding element until engagement with the arresting element.