#automotive safety

As of July 2024, the EU General Safety Regulation 2019/2144 requires all new car models sold in the European Union to be equipped with a driver monitoring system (DMS) that uses a camera to detect distraction and drowsiness. This regulation aims to reduce accidents caused by driver inattention, but it also raises significant privacy and usability concerns among drivers and consumer advocates. The DMS must be integrated into the vehicle's type-approval process and cannot be permanently disabled. The system typically uses infrared cameras to track eye and head movements, issuing alerts when distraction is detected.