Japan to mandate Driver Monitoring Systems in all new vehicles by 2031

Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has announced a mandate requiring all new vehicles sold in the country to be equipped with Driver Monitoring Systems (DMS). The regulation aims to reduce traffic accidents caused by distracted driving, such as smartphone use, and drowsiness.

Starting in September 2031, the requirement will apply to all new domestic and imported models. The mandate will expand to include existing models in continuous production two years later. The system uses cameras and sensors to monitor driver behavior, such as gaze direction and eyelid movement.

Under the proposed standards, which align with international UN WP29 regulations, the system will trigger an alert if a driver's gaze remains directed away from the road for more than 3.5 seconds while traveling above 50 km/h, or 6 seconds when traveling between 20 and 50 km/h. For drowsiness detection, the system will monitor eye movements and steering patterns at speeds between 70 and 130 km/h.

While manufacturers like Toyota, Suzuki, and Subaru already utilize DMS in certain models, the broad mandate marks a shift from hardware-focused safety, like automatic braking, toward software-based monitoring of driver attention. However, concerns remain regarding the potential impact of these mandatory high-tech features on vehicle purchase prices.