EU Now Requires Driver Monitoring Cameras in All New Cars Sold

Every new car sold in the EU must now include a camera system that monitors the driver for signs of distraction or drowsiness.

Every new passenger car approved for sale in the European Union is now required to include a driver monitoring system — technology that uses cameras or sensors to detect when a driver is distracted, drowsy, or not looking at the road. The requirement is part of the EU's General Safety Regulation, a sweeping vehicle safety package that has been rolling out in stages. Driver monitoring systems (DMS) work by tracking eye movement, head position, and facial cues to assess whether a driver is paying adequate attention. When inattention is detected, the system can issue warnings — visual, audible, or haptic — to prompt the driver to refocus. The mandate applies to newly type-approved vehicles, meaning models going through the regulatory certification process now must include the technology. Automakers had already begun fitting some higher-end models with similar systems voluntarily, but the regulation makes it a baseline requirement across all new cars in the bloc. The EU has framed driver monitoring as a key tool for reducing road fatalities, particularly those caused by distraction and fatigue, which are among the leading causes of serious crashes on European roads.

Why it matters

Driver inattention and fatigue are factors in a significant share of road deaths across Europe, and mandating monitoring technology in all new cars could meaningfully reduce crash rates. The rule also sets a precedent that could influence vehicle safety standards in other markets.

What's next

Regulators will be watching how effectively the systems perform across diverse real-world driving conditions, and scrutiny over driver privacy — given that the cameras record biometric data — is expected to grow.

Key facts

• The requirement stems from the EU's General Safety Regulation, which has been phased in over several years
• Driver monitoring systems use cameras or sensors to track eye movement, head position, and facial cues
• Systems must alert drivers when inattention or drowsiness is detected, typically via sound, light, or vibration
• The mandate applies to all newly type-approved passenger cars sold in the EU
• Distraction and fatigue are among the leading contributors to serious road crashes in Europe
• Some automakers had already included driver monitoring voluntarily on premium models before this requirement

Bias & framing notes

Only a single source was available for this story. TechRadar's framing — 'a camera that watches the driver' — leans toward surveillance-focused language, which may carry a slightly unsettling connotation beyond what the regulation itself emphasizes. The regulation's stated purpose is safety, not surveillance, a distinction the headline and intro underplay. No conflicting facts were present given the single source.

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