EU Mandates Driver Monitoring for New RegistrationsAFP - Getty ImagesAs of Thursday, the European Commission officially expanded its General Safety Regulations to include a host of additional safety requirements for all newly registered vehicles. Mandated features now include advanced emergency braking that detects pedestrians and cyclists, improved forward visibility, and advanced driver distraction warning systems meant to keep drivers focused on the road. Performance testing on worn tires and expanded pedestrian-protecting areas of safety glass are also included in the sweeping regulations."European roads are among the safest in the world, but the number of deaths and injuries from road accidents is still too high. Thanks to the EU's General Safety Regulation, many safety systems have already been mandatory for all newly registered cars and vans since 2024. Starting on 7 July 2026, these vehicles will now be subject to even more advanced safety requirements," the European Commission announcement reads.picture alliance - Getty ImagesAdvanced Driver Distraction Warning systems have been required for new vehicle types—a.k.a. all-new models being homologated for sale for the first time—in the EU since 2024. The July 2026 update, in turn, requires all newly registered road vehicles to comply with the mandate; in other words, all new cars and passenger vehicles hitting the streets in the European Union will now be required to feature a camera-based driver-monitoring system. Critics of these driver monitoring systems claim the potential for data privacy violations is high, despite EU rules requiring the systems to operate on a closed-loop basis.AdvertisementAdvertisementEuropean regulators have historically been much stricter about tire safety than their North American counterparts; proper winter tires are required in parts of the European Union, and now drivers will be held accountable for tire wear standards, as well. The parameters for these new tire wear tests in the EU have yet to be detailed, though we suspect it will focus on tread depth and stopping distance. Research from Discount Tire has shown that worn tires required 45 percent more stopping distance on wet roads.picture alliance - Getty ImagesThe European Commission said that automakers were given ample time to develop these "technically demanding features" as a result of the multi-phase rollout. "The long-term EU goal is to move as close as possible to zero fatalities in road transport by 2050, which it calls Vision Zero. These new mandatory requirements will help the EU achieve this," the European Commission said. "Moreover, they will help to better protect pedestrians and cyclists, address crashes caused by driver distraction, and encourage widespread adoption of advanced driver-assistance systems."You Might Also LikeIf You Can Only Own One Car, Make It One of TheseThese Are the Most Popular Cars by State