Greenlight from EU Parliament: all motor vehicles to be equipped with driver drowsiness, attention and distraction warning systems

During the plenary session on 11-14 March, the European Parliament greenlighted a set of new rules to make advanced safety equipment mandatory in all new vehicles sold on the EU market. The measures were proposed by the European Commission in May last year, stating that all motor vehicles shall be equipped with driver distraction, drowsiness and attention warning system.  

According to the European Parliament the new rules would include:

–          Driver drowsiness and attention warning if alertness is insufficient

–          Distraction warning to alert the driver if the level of visual attention to the traffic situation is low

According to the Parliament, the new rules partly aim to adapt to new causes of distractions for drivers, especially the use of electronic devices. It is also a way to help drivers get use to autonomous technologies in vehicles.

For Smart Eye the greenlight from the EU Parliament is positive since it could increase the speed of implementation of DMS technology on the European market even further, and in the end save more lives.

The new rules still have to be negotiated with the Council before they can enter into force.