New EU Regulations Require Cars to Monitor Drivers for Distractions

European cars are now required to do more than just transport people. A new safety regulation in the European Union mandates that all new passenger vehicles must include "advanced driver distraction warning" systems. These systems are designed to monitor drivers for signs of distraction and issue visual and audio warnings if a driver's gaze drifts for more than three to six seconds, depending on their speed.

To comply with this regulation, vehicles must be equipped with cameras that continuously monitor the driver's face, effectively turning them into surveillance systems. The regulation states that the equipment should operate as a "closed-loop system," meaning it should only retain data necessary for its function. However, the enforcement of this rule remains unclear.

Critics have raised concerns about privacy and the potential for these systems to become distractions themselves, warning that they may issue alerts for benign actions like changing the radio station or looking at a passenger. Additionally, there are worries that the implementation of these systems will increase the cost of vehicles.

Manufacturers are allowed to provide drivers with the option to temporarily disable the monitoring system or its warnings, but these features must reactivate each time the vehicle is restarted. Currently, the systems are only required to warn drivers of distractions and do not have the capability to take control of the vehicle.

Upcoming U.S. Regulations on Driver Monitoring

Similar monitoring systems may soon be introduced in the United States, but with a different focus. A mandate from the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act requires that new vehicles be equipped with technology to prevent impaired driving. This technology is expected to passively monitor driver performance to identify impairment and potentially prevent vehicle operation.

Filed & Cleared

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) was tasked with developing specific rules for these systems by 2024, but progress has been slow. The agency is now aiming to finalize these rules by 2027, after which automakers will have time to implement the new technology.

In June, the NHTSA sought public comments on a proposal to conduct a research study aimed at developing a prototype driver monitoring system. This system would integrate various data sources, including driver attention, physiological state, vehicle movement, and environmental sensors, to enhance safety on the roads.