EU safety regulations mandate new driver assistance systems in Germany

New European Union safety regulations are introducing mandatory technical assistance systems for newly registered vehicles in Germany. Under EU Regulation 2019/2144, several safety features must be included in new cars, such as Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA), fatigue warnings, rearview assistants, emergency brake lights, and event data recorders, often referred to as black boxes.

As of July 2024, these systems are required for new passenger car registrations. Further requirements will take effect on July 7, 2026, expanding the mandate to include advanced emergency braking systems capable of detecting pedestrians and cyclists, as well as driver distraction warning systems.

These regulations apply only to new vehicle registrations; there is no general requirement for owners of older, already registered vehicles to retrofit these systems.