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

From 7 July 2026 the European Union will obligate all newly registered passenger cars to be equipped with an interior camera that monitors driver attention. The Advanced Driver Distraction Warning (ADDW) system will detect head pose, gaze direction and eye movement, issuing a warning after six seconds of distraction at speeds up to 50 km/h and after three‑and‑a‑half seconds at higher speeds. Recordings are processed only in the vehicle and are not stored permanently, addressing privacy concerns. The measure is part of a broader EU safety package aimed at reducing road deaths to zero by 2050.

In Austria, vehicle inspection (the “Pickerl”) intervals will be extended. Starting 19 May 2027, the periodic technical check will be required only eight years after a car’s first registration, replacing the current 3‑2‑1 schedule. The new rule also removes the three‑month grace period and allows inspections up to four months before the due date, with no post‑deadline tolerance. The change aligns Austrian practice with EU regulations and is expected to affect owners, workshops and cross‑border travel.