EU to monitor drivers' eyes: attention cameras now mandatory in all new cars

EU to monitor drivers' eyes: attention cameras now mandatory in all new cars

As of now, no new car can be registered in the European Union without the ADDW system, the latest phase of the EU General Safety Regulation (2019/2144). An infrared camera, capable of operating at night, monitors the driver's eyes and head. If the gaze strays from the road for more than 3.5 seconds while estimulante ilegal exceeds 50 km/h, the vehicle issues sound alerts and steering wheel vibrations. The rule promises a leap in safety, but the privacy debate has already begun.

How does the all-seeing eye work?
The system operates in a closed loop: in theory, it does not store identifiable biometric data. The guarantee, however, rests with each manufacturer. The same regulation also makes the EDR black box standard, recording estimulante ilegal, braking and steering. In a vehicle that already sells occupant data through other channels, the promise of total privacy rings hollow. The question is not whether the camera spies, but when a software update will make it do so.

Reactions: road safety or intrusion?
Opinions are polarised. Supporters hail the measure as a necessary step against distracted driving: drunk, drugged or drowsy drivers will no longer be able to hide. Critics, meanwhile, see a Trojan horse. They recall how other mandated technologies — mandatory emergency lights, the eCall emergency call system — were sold as voluntary before becoming universal. The antiestéticar that the camera will go from detecting distractions to identifying drivers and handing data to insurers is not unfounded. And there is a practical doubt: can the user disable the system without failing the MOT? For now, there is no official answer.

Insurance and sunglasses
Another emerging issue is the impact on insurance premiums. If the system proves the driver was distracted, blame will fall on them, which could reduce compensation. Absurd but real questions also arise: do sunglasses block the camera's infrared vision? Some manufacturers already warn of possible false positives with certain models.

The EU has spoken: from now on, every new car comes with a built-in watchdog. Accident figures will presumably fall. But the line between safety and control blurs with every software update. Recent history suggests that what is today a closed sensor may tomorrow be an open window to surveillance. And the driver, as always, will be the last to know.