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EU Mandates Driver Distraction Warnings for Cars
10 Jul
Summary
- New EU regulation requires Advanced Driver Distraction Warning systems.
- Systems monitor driver eyes and face for road attention.
- Privacy advocates warn of potential data misuse and tracking.
As of this week, the European Commission has enacted a new regulation requiring all new vehicles sold in the EU to be equipped with Advanced Driver Distraction Warning (ADDW) systems. This initiative is part of the EU's General Safety Regulation, aimed at reducing the high number of road accident fatalities and injuries.
The ADDW systems employ cameras to continuously monitor the driver's gaze and facial expressions, issuing audible alerts or on-screen notifications if the driver appears inattentive. While many new cars already feature similar technology, this mandate ensures widespread adoption.
However, the decision has sparked concerns among privacy advocates regarding data handling. Reports from 2023 and 2024 highlight widespread privacy failures in automotive data collection, with some automakers investigated for selling driver data. Clarity on how this new driver-monitoring data will be secured and used remains a significant concern.
