New Safety Requirements for New Cars Take Effect July 7

Starting July 7, 2026, new cars and light commercial vehicles registered in the EU will be equipped with enhanced safety features mandated by new regulations. Manufacturers will be required to integrate either a concentration and distraction warning system or an advanced emergency braking system.

The advanced braking system is designed to detect pedestrians and cyclists, automatically initiating an emergency stop if a collision is imminent. These new safety requirements are based on EU Regulation 2019/2144, which the Austrian Automobile, Motorcycle and Touring Club (ÖAMTC) views positively. The organization believes these measures are a significant step toward improving road safety, particularly by increasing protection for vulnerable road users and potentially reducing accidents caused by driver distraction.

However, Daniel Deimel, an ÖAMTC technician, noted that the mandatory systems must be thoroughly trained for various scenarios to avoid false alarms or driver overstimulation. "The mandatory systems must be trained for the most diverse scenarios and obstacles. Warnings and interventions must be coordinated so that drivers are not disturbed, irritated, or overwhelmed," he stated.

Existing safety features like intelligent speed assistance, reversing aids, 'black box' event data recorders, and adaptive brake lights will remain standard. Additionally, the emergency lane-keeping assistant, which actively counteracts unintentional lane departures, will now be mandatory even for vehicles with hydraulic power steering. The distraction and concentration warning system uses a camera to monitor drivers' eye movements and behavior, alerting them to signs of fatigue or inattention, such as looking at a mobile phone. Requirements for pedestrian head protection in frontal impacts have also been increased.

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The mandatory systems must be trained for the most diverse scenarios and obstacles. Warnings and interventions must be coordinated so that drivers are not disturbed, irritated, or overwhelmed.