EU mandates driver‑monitoring cameras in all new cars

From 7 July 2026 the European Union’s General Safety Regulation (2019/2144) requires every newly‑registered passenger car and van to be equipped with an Advanced Driver Distraction Warning (ADDW) system. The system uses an infrared camera inside the cabin to track the driver’s eye gaze and head position and issues visual, audible or tactile alerts when the driver looks away from the road for more than six seconds at 20‑50 km/h (or 3.5 seconds above 50 km/h).

The ADDW requirement is part of the EU’s Vision Zero road‑safety programme, which aims to reduce road‑traffic deaths to near‑zero by 2050. The Commission estimates the broader safety package, which also makes emergency‑braking systems able to detect pedestrians and cyclists, improves front‑visibility glazing and tightens tyre‑wear testing, could prevent more than 25 000 deaths and 140 000 serious injuries by 2038.

Data from the camera must remain within the vehicle, cannot be used for facial recognition, and may not be transmitted to manufacturers or authorities. Privacy advocates have warned that continuous in‑cab monitoring could set a precedent for broader surveillance, while industry groups stress the system’s limited data handling and its role in saving lives.