EU Mandates Driver-Monitoring Cameras and Event Data Recorders in All New Vehicles From July 7

The final phase of the European Union's updated General Safety Regulation took effect July 7, 2026, requiring every new passenger car, van, truck and bus sold or first registered in the bloc to carry interior-facing cameras that track the driver's gaze, head movements and attention levels.

The system, called Advanced Driver Distraction Warning, activates at low speeds and issues visual, acoustic or haptic warnings that intensify with prolonged distraction. At speeds of 50 km/h or above, a continuous gaze into the distraction zone for more than 3.5 seconds triggers intervention; at 20 km/h or higher the threshold is 6 seconds.

The regulation also mandates an Event Data Recorder that captures speed, braking, steering inputs and other telemetry during a collision. Current rules require the cameras to operate without biometric identification or facial recognition and to function as a closed-loop system that retains only data needed for immediate operation, with no video transmitted outside the vehicle.

The European Commission promoted the rollout on July 5, listing the distraction-warning system alongside advanced emergency braking for pedestrians and cyclists, better forward vision, new tyre-wear tests and expanded safety glass.

Martin Krantz, CEO and founder of Smart Eye, stated on July 7 that driver monitoring is now a required part of vehicle safety across Europe and that the regulation will set a precedent for other parts of the world.