Commission welcomes agreement on new EU rules to help save lives
The EU institutions have reached a provisional political agreement on the revised General Safety Regulation. As of 2022 new safety technologies will become mandatory in European vehicles to protect passengers, pedestrians and cyclists.
The new mandatory features will include:
For cars, vans, trucks, and buses: warning of driver drowsiness and distraction (e.g., smartphone use while driving), intelligent speed assistance, reversing safety with camera or sensors and data recorder in case of an accident (‘black box’).
For cars and vans: lane-keeping assistance, advanced emergency braking and crash-test improved safety belts.
For trucks and buses: specific requirements to improve the direct vision of bus and truck drivers and to remove blind spots, and systems at the front and side of the vehicle to detect and warn of vulnerable road users, especially when making turns.
The political agreement reached by the European Parliament, Council and Commission in so-called trilogue negotiations is now subject to formal approval by the European Parliament and Council. The new safety features will become mandatory from 2022, with the exception of direct vision for trucks and buses and enlarged head impact zone on cars and vans, which will follow later due to the necessary structural design changes.
