European Union mandates new vehicle safety technologies

New European Union safety regulations are progressively introducing mandatory technical assistance systems for newly registered vehicles. Under EU Regulation 2019/2144, several systems became mandatory for new cars as of July 7, 2024, including intelligent speed assistance (ISA), fatigue warnings, rearview assistants, emergency brake lights, and event data recorders (black boxes).

Starting July 7, 2026, additional requirements will take effect for new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. This includes advanced emergency braking systems capable of detecting pedestrians and cyclists, as well as the Advanced Driver Distraction Warning (ADDW) system. The ADDW system utilizes cameras, typically located behind the rearview mirror or in the dashboard, to monitor driver head position, gaze direction, and eye movements to detect distraction.

The system triggers alerts based on speed: between 20 and 50 km/h, an alarm sounds if the driver's gaze is diverted for at least six seconds, while at speeds above 50 km/h, the warning occurs after three and a half seconds. These measures aim to reduce traffic fatalities, with the EU targeting zero road deaths by 2050. These mandates apply only to newly registered vehicles; there is no requirement to retrofit older cars.