EU Finalizes Mandatory Driver Monitoring Cameras in All New Vehicles Under General Safety Rules

As of July 7, 2026, the final phase of the EU's updated General Safety Regulation (GSR 2, Regulation (EU) 2019/2144) requires Advanced Driver Distraction Warning (ADDW) systems in every newly registered passenger car, van, truck, and bus across the bloc. These camera-based systems monitor driver gaze direction, head orientation, and visual attention, issuing escalating warnings for prolonged distraction—such as more than 3.5 seconds off-road at speeds above 50 km/h or 6 seconds at 20 km/h and above.

Official EU documentation and industry analyses confirm the mandate builds on requirements effective for new vehicle types since July 2024. The systems operate as closed-loop setups without biometric identification or facial recognition, with data retention limited to immediate safety functions and no transmission of video to authorities under current rules. An accompanying Event Data Recorder captures collision-related telemetry including speed and braking inputs.

European Commission communications highlight the features alongside advanced emergency braking and other safety enhancements as life-saving measures targeting distraction, a leading crash factor. Companies like Smart Eye and Seeing Machines, specializing in driver monitoring, describe the date as a landmark, noting it sets precedents for global markets while applying to an estimated 15 million vehicles annually in Europe.

Critics, including analyses in automotive outlets, point to the infrastructure's potential for expanded surveillance despite privacy safeguards, echoing broader patterns in commercial fleet monitoring. Related developments, such as industry patents for AI-driven emotional state detection in vehicles, illustrate how baseline safety tech can evolve. EUR-Lex records detail technical specifications in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2590, emphasizing gaze-zone monitoring without overreach in the initial framework.

This rollout connects to existing mandates in heavy vehicles and signals wider adoption of in-cab sensing, though implementation remains bounded by explicit prohibitions on identification and external data flows.