The update focuses on early hazard detection, pedestrian and cyclist protection, and more precise monitoring of driver fatigue; areas that will become central to the General Safety Regulation (GSR2) and the tightened Advanced Emergency Braking System (AEBS) standards entering force later in the decade.
The current Active Brake Assist 6 will be replaced by Active Brake Assist 6 Plus, a system designed to meet the enhanced AEBS performance requirements the EU will introduce in September 2028.
The upgrade centres on a 270-degree fusion of camera and radar data, allowing the truck to identify developing hazards sooner and react at higher speeds. According to the technical specification, the system aims to prevent or mitigate collisions with:
- other vehicles at speeds of up to 90 km/h, and
- pedestrians or cyclists at up to 60 km/h.
The truck also provides a clearer indication of when the system is fully initialised, an issue operators have raised in the past with earlier-generation braking aids.
Revised fatigue-detection system adds gaze monitoring
From the same date, the manufacturer will offer Attention Assist 2, a more advanced fatigue-and-attention monitor. Instead of relying purely on steering-behaviour patterns or simple alertness metrics, the updated version uses an infrared camera to analyse:
- head position,
- pupil movement,
- eye-blink frequency, and
- gaze direction.
If the system detects signs of tiredness or inattention, such as drooping eyelids, repeated yawning, or a gaze that drifts away from the road, it issues visual and acoustic warnings.
One detail likely to be relevant for unions and privacy advocates is that the system operates in a closed loop: all data remains inside the vehicle and is automatically deleted after 15 minutes. No information is uploaded or transmitted externally.
What the update means for European fleets
For hauliers, the February 2026 rollout provides a preview of how heavy-duty manufacturers are preparing to comply with incoming EU safety regulations. Over the next three years, operators can expect:
- stricter brake-performance requirements across all new trucks,
- wider adoption of gaze-tracking and fatigue-monitoring technologies, and
- expanded detection of vulnerable road users such as cyclists and pedestrians.
These technologies will become standard as regulatory deadlines approach, meaning fleets that plan multi-year procurement cycles may not be able to “buy around” the transition.
The changes form part of the EU’s wider push to reduce road deaths involving heavy vehicles. With urban areas tightening safety rules and long-haul corridors facing higher compliance expectations, the industry is entering a phase where advanced sensing and monitoring will be part of the baseline specification for new trucks.
