New EU Vehicle Safety Requirements Bring Privacy Controversy
As of 7 July, all newly registered passenger cars and vans in the European Union must be equipped with additional safety systems under the revised General Safety Regulation. The mandatory features include advanced emergency braking capable of detecting pedestrians and cyclists, a driver distraction warning system, improved driver visibility, stricter requirements for worn tyres, and larger areas of safety glass to better protect pedestrians in the event of a collision. The feature attracting the most attention is the driver monitoring system, which uses an infrared camera pointed at the driver’s face to analyse eye movements, blinking, gaze direction, and signs of fatigue. The aim of the technology is to warn drivers when they become distracted or drowsy, helping to reduce the number of road accidents. The new rules do not apply to vehicles already on the road, but only to passenger cars and vans registered for the first time after the regulation came into force. Vehicles manufactured without the required equipment can no longer be legally registered within the European Union. The EU says the measures are part of its broader strategy to reduce road fatalities, noting that alcohol and driver distraction remain among the leading causes of fatal traffic accidents.
However, some members of the public have raised concerns about privacy, as the camera continuously monitors the driver’s behaviour, with fears that it could eventually be integrated with additional monitoring technologies.
