On 5 January 2020, Regulation (EU) 2019/2144 on vehicle safety came into force. The regulation contains the first set of amendments to the so-called General Safety Regulations (GSR), which introduced mandatory equipment for trucks from 6 July 2022.
From then on, all newly homologated vehicles must be equipped with numerous safety systems, which become mandatory for all newly manufactured vehicles this year.
ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems), which must be in new vehicles from next Sunday, include:
- Advanced Emergency Braking Systems in passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. This equipment became mandatory on 7 July this year for newly manufactured passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. The systems must be capable of automatic and autonomous braking in the event of detecting a potential frontal collision with a stationary or moving vehicle. From 7 July this year, in approved vehicles, these systems must also detect pedestrians and cyclists and apply the braking system autonomously. This advanced system will be mandatory for all new commercial and passenger vehicles from 7 July 2026.
- Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA). According to the timetable in the EU regulation, all newly manufactured motor vehicles are to be equipped with an Intelligent Speed Assistant (ISA). The task of this system is to control the speed and adapt it to the limits of the road. However, speed control can be taken over by the driver at any time.
- Driver Drowsiness and Attention Warning (DDAW) System. From 7 July this year, all newly manufactured motor vehicles must have one.
- Steering Assistance Systems and Collision Warning Systems (PCW). These are becoming mandatory for newly manufactured buses, coaches, and heavy goods vehicles. The systems can detect pedestrians and cyclists in close proximity at the front or side of the vehicle and warn of them or avoid collisions.
- Reversing Detection (REV) System. This system helps avoid collisions while reversing and is mandatory for all newly produced motor vehicles. It can be a reversing camera or a system that detects obstacles when reversing.
- Event Data Recorders (EDR). These are becoming compulsory equipment for new cars and light commercial vehicles. From 7 January 2026, “black boxes” will be standard on newly homologated buses, coaches, and trucks, and from 7 January 2029, on all newly manufactured trucks, buses, and coaches. In the event of an accident, the recorder will capture anonymous driving data in line with EU data protection legislation. The results obtained will enable detailed accident analyses and the development of further solutions to enhance safety.
- Emergency Stop Signal (ESS). This is becoming standard equipment on newly manufactured commercial vehicles, cars, buses, and coaches. It is a traffic light function that indicates to other road users at the rear of the vehicle that the car has suddenly stopped or slowed down significantly. The signal is generated by the simultaneous activation of all the stop lamps or turn signals fitted to the vehicle. It is activated automatically when the vehicle speed exceeds 50 km/h and the vehicle slows down very quickly, or the anti-lock braking system (ABS) is activated.
- Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS). From 7 July this year, TPMS is compulsory for all newly manufactured trucks with a gross vehicle weight over 3.5 t (M2, M3, N1, N2, N3, O3, O4). Such a system must be able to immediately warn the driver if there is a deviation from a certain threshold value. Vehicle pressure is measured indirectly by means of an algorithm that calculates pressure based on, among other things, the number of wheel revolutions, or directly thanks to sensors mounted in the centre of the wheel (on the rim, valve, or tyre).
- Blind Spot Information System (BSIS). This system is mandatory on newly manufactured trucks and vans. It uses signals to warn the driver of road users in the blind spot, helping to prevent collisions with pedestrians and cyclists, which often lead to serious or fatal accidents.
- Moving Off Information System (MOIS). This system is mandatory from 7 July on trucks and light commercial vehicles. It helps prevent collisions with pedestrians or cyclists in the vehicle’s front lane blind spot when starting off.
- Emergency Lane Keeping System (ELKS). From 7 July this year, a system to assist the driver in maintaining a safe position of the vehicle in relation to the lane or the edge of the carriageway should appear in all newly manufactured cars and light commercial vehicles. These systems warn the driver of an impending lane departure and intervene when this occurs.
- Facilitating the installation of an anti-alcohol lock, the so-called alcolock (ALC). The idea is to ensure that an interlock can be easily fitted to prevent the driver from starting the vehicle without checking their sobriety with an on-board breathalyser.