As of today, Advanced Driver Distraction Warning (ADDW) systems are mandatory in all new vehicles sold on the European market under the EU’s General Safety Regulation (GSR).
The requirement marks a major step in the adoption of driver monitoring technology, making systems that can detect visual distraction a core part of vehicle safety across passenger cars, trucks, and buses.
ADDW systems are designed to detect when a driver becomes visually distracted from the task of driving, for example by looking away from the road, interacting with in-car systems, or using a mobile device.
Systems based only on vehicle behavior, such as steering or lane keeping, are generally not enough to detect visual distraction reliably. To meet ADDW requirements, automakers need technology that can assess the driver directly, typically using sensors and software capable of analyzing head and eye movements to determine whether the driver’s attention is on the road.
For Smart Eye, this means that the type of direct driver monitoring technology the company has developed for more than two decades is now required across one of the world’s largest automotive markets, covering an estimated 15 million vehicles per year.
“July 7 is a landmark day for road safety in Europe,” said Martin Krantz, CEO and Founder of Smart Eye. “For Smart Eye, this is a moment we have been working toward for years. Together with our industry peers, we have achieved something significant: driver monitoring is now a required part of vehicle safety across Europe. But what matters most is that more lives will be saved on Europe’s roads. We believe this regulation will set a precedent for other parts of the world.”