EU mandates driver‑monitoring cameras in all new cars from July 2026

The European Union has adopted a new safety regulation that, from 7 July 2026, requires every newly‑registered passenger car and light commercial vehicle sold in the bloc to be equipped with an interior driver‑monitoring camera system called Advanced Driver Distraction Warning (ADDW). The infrared camera continuously scans the driver’s head position, eye direction and gaze duration. If the driver looks away from the road for more than six seconds at speeds between 20 km/h and 50 km/h, or for more than 3.5 seconds above 50 km/h, the system issues visual, audible and haptic warnings. The measure is part of the EU’s Vision Zero road‑safety programme and is projected to prevent over 25 000 serious injuries and 140 000 fatalities by 2038. Data are processed locally in a closed‑loop fashion; facial recognition and biometric identification are prohibited, and recordings are deleted after use. The requirement applies only to new vehicles – existing cars are exempt – and manufacturers have already begun fitting the cameras ahead of the deadline. Drivers can temporarily mute the system, but it re‑activates each time the vehicle is started. Privacy advocates have raised concerns about potential data misuse, although the regulation currently lacks specific enforcement penalties.