EU Mandates Driver‑Attention Monitoring Systems in All New Cars from July 2026

From 7 July 2026, every vehicle registered for the first time in the European Union must be equipped with an Advanced Driver Distraction Warning (ADDW) system. The infrared‑camera device monitors the driver’s gaze, eyelid movement and signs of drowsiness, issuing visual, auditory or haptic alerts when attention is lost for more than 3.5 seconds at speeds above 50 km/h (or up to 6 seconds at 20‑50 km/h).

The regulation also requires additional safety equipment: an Event Data Recorder to log crash‑related data, an Emergency Stop Signal that flashes brake lights during hard braking, an enhanced Automatic Emergency Braking system capable of detecting vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists, and speed‑assistance that recognises and warns about local speed limits. Although drivers can manually switch off the ADDW, the system must reactivate automatically each time the vehicle starts, similar to existing Start‑&‑Stop functions. European authorities state the data are processed locally and are neither stored nor transmitted, addressing privacy concerns.