Mandatory driver-facing cameras required in all new EU cars from today

All new cars registered in the EU must now include a driver-facing camera or sensor and an upgraded automatic emergency braking system, under new rules taking effect today, SVT reports.

The measures are part of the EU’s General Safety Regulation, aiming to prevent 25,000 road deaths and 140,000 injuries by 2038 through advanced vehicle safety systems.

Driver monitoring systems must detect when a driver’s attention strays from the road and issue a warning. Emergency braking systems must now reliably detect pedestrians and cyclists, such as a child chasing a ball near a school.

While the requirements have applied to new car models since 2024, they now extend to every new individual vehicle, primarily affecting smaller, simpler models previously without such systems.

Concerns have been raised about data collection, particularly as many car brands are Chinese-owned. Though Sweden’s GDPR protections apply, there are fears that data could still be accessed by foreign authorities.

Motor journalist Jonas Fröberg told SVT the benefits outweigh the risks for now, noting that pedestrians and cyclists stand to gain the most from the changes.