EU Mandates In-Cabin Driver Monitoring Cameras

The European Union’s General Safety Regulation requires new vehicles to use Advanced Driver Distraction Warning systems that assess driver gaze and head position with an infrared, cabin-facing camera.

The rules generally require real-time, closed-loop processing, prohibit facial recognition and occupant identification, and restrict video or biometric data from leaving the vehicle. The mandate is intended to reduce distraction, but its deployment has raised concerns about auditing, manufacturer telemetry practices, data access, and whether connected-vehicle systems could support broader monitoring in the future.