New EU Regulation Mandates Driver Distraction Warning Systems in All New Cars
A new European Union regulation requires all new cars sold after July 7, 2024, to be equipped with an advanced driver distraction warning (ADDW) system.
The European Union has implemented a new safety regulation mandating that all new cars sold from July 7, 2024 onwards must be fitted with an advanced driver distraction warning (ADDW) system.
The system monitors the driver's eye movements and head posture to detect potential lapses in attention. Smart Eye, a Swedish AI company and a major supplier in this field, describes the technology as life-saving and capable of preventing accidents.
According to Smart Eye CEO Martin Krantz, the system can identify when a driver is looking at the speedometer. Drivers are permitted a brief period, approximately two seconds, to direct their gaze to objects inside the vehicle before the system may issue a warning.
The system is designed to react particularly to situations where the driver is using a mobile phone, which is illegal in most jurisdictions while driving. It can issue an immediate "look at the road" alert. While the system reportedly tracks driver behavior closely, it is not intended to report driver actions to authorities, and implementation may vary among car manufacturers. This requirement is part of the EU's General Safety Regulation, aimed at enhancing road safety by reducing accidents and their severity through improved attention on the road.