EU mandates driver‑monitoring cameras in all new cars

From 7 July 2026 the European Union’s General Safety Regulation (GSR 2) requires every newly‑registered passenger car, van, truck or bus sold in the bloc to be fitted with an Advanced Driver Distraction Warning (ADDW) system. The system uses an interior‑facing infrared camera to track the driver’s gaze, head orientation and eye movements. If the driver looks away from the road for more than six seconds at speeds of 20 km/h or higher (or more than 3.5 seconds above 50 km/h), the vehicle issues visual, acoustic or haptic warnings, such as seat‑vibration, to refocus attention.

The regulation forbids facial‑recognition or biometric identification and requires that all video data remain inside the vehicle in a closed‑loop system, complying with GDPR. The rule is part of a wider safety package that also makes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, improved front‑visibility structures, tyre‑wear testing and stronger glass mandatory. Manufacturers estimate the new equipment will add several hundred euros to vehicle costs, but the EU projects that the measures will save thousands of lives by reducing accidents caused by distraction or fatigue. Industry leaders such as Smart Eye’s CEO Martin Krantz have described the mandate as a landmark comparable to seat‑belts and airbags.