The EU institutions have reached a provisional political agreement on the revised General Safety Regulation. As of 2022 new safety technologies will become mandatory in European vehicles to protect passengers, pedestrians and cyclists.



New technologies on the market can help reduce the number of fatalities and injuries on our roads, 90% of which are due to human error.

In May 2018, the Commission proposed to make certain vehicle safety measures mandatory, including systems that reduce the dangerous blind spots on trucks and buses and technology that warns the driver in case of drowsiness or distraction.


Advanced safety features will reduce the number of accidents, pave the way towards increasingly connected and automated mobility, and boost the global innovation and competitiveness edge of the European car industry.
Commissioner El?bieta Bie?kowska, responsible for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, yesterday said:

"Every year, 25,000 people lose their lives on our roads. The vast majority of these accidents are caused by human error. We can and must act to change this. With the new advanced safety features that will become mandatory, we can have the same kind of impact as when the safety belts were first introduced. Many of the new features already exist, in particular in high–end vehicles. Now we raise the safety level across the board, and pave the way for connected and automated mobility of the future."

The new mandatory safety features include (see full list here):

1. For cars, vans, trucks and buses: warning of driver drowsiness and distraction (e.g. smartphone use while driving), intelligent speed assistance, reversing safety with camera or sensors, and data recorder in case of an accident (‘black box').
2. For cars and vans: lane-keeping assistance, advanced emergency braking, and crash-test improved safety belts.
3. For trucks and buses: specific requirements to improve the direct vision of bus and truck drivers and to remove blind spots, and systems at the front and side of the vehicle to detect and warn of vulnerable road users, especially when making turns.

The Commission expects that the proposed measures will help save over 25,000 lives and avoid at least 140,000 serious injuries by 2038. This will contribute to the EU's long-term goal of moving close to zero fatalities and serious injuries by 2050 ("Vision Zero").



In addition to protecting people on European roads, the new advanced safety features will help drivers get gradually used to the new driving assistance. Increasing degrees of automation offer significant potential to compensate for human errors and offer new mobility solutions for the elderly and physically impaired. All this should enhance public trust and acceptance of automated cars, supporting the transition towards autonomous driving.



Next steps
The political agreement reached by the European Parliament, Council and Commission in so-called trilogue negotiations is now subject to formal approval by the European Parliament and Council.The new safety features will become mandatory from 2022, with the exception of direct vision for trucks and buses and enlarged head impact zone on cars and vans, which will follow later due to the necessary structural design changes.


Background
In recent years, the EU has introduced a range of mandatory measures, which contributed to an estimated reduction of 50,000 fatal traffic casualties per year. These measures include electronic stability control systems on all vehicles, as well as advanced emergency braking systems and lane departure warning systems on trucks and buses.


In 2017, the Commission launched a public consultation to gather stakeholder views on potential improvements to current vehicle safety measures. In May 2018, the Commission then proposed a review of the General Safety Regulation and the Pedestrian Safety Regulation, under the Third “Europe on the Move” set of actions. The revised General Safety Regulation goes hand in hand with an efficient safety management of road infrastructure, where the Commission's proposalwasagreed in February 2019.



The Commission also presented a Communication on Connected and Automated Mobility to make Europe a world leader for autonomous and safe mobility systems. As a first deliverable for connected mobility the Commission had adopted new rules that step up the deployment of Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems (C-ITS) on Europe's roads. C-ITS allow vehicles to ‘talk' to each other, to the road infrastructure, and to other road users – for instance about dangerous situations, road works and the timing of traffic lights, making road transport safer, cleaner and more efficient.

Great idea but when you are travelling in a 20mph area at the governed speed related new car, you will be subject to all the abuse from the un-governed cars wanting to do the usual 30-40mph.
When ALL cars are like this, no problem.
But make motorways a more sensible 80mph.

Originally Posted by Sproggy the Cat

Great idea but when you are travelling in a 20mph area at the governed speed related new car, you will be subject to all the abuse from the un-governed cars wanting to do the usual 30-40mph.
When ALL cars are like this, no problem.
But make motorways a more sensible 80mph.

That is too much common sense, you know the cyclist will be having an apoplectic fit.
Anyone using anything other than a Pony & Trap or a bike are cursed by the Scarisbrick Gypsy.

More creeping control from the EU. Sooner we are out the better. However I am not sure how well this would work, a slowing car not showing any brake lights may confuse and cause accidents, we will have to see.

Soon be just a head on a seat or stick whilst driving,!! Were is the excitement anymore in driving FFS.

Originally Posted by cotton man

More creeping control from the EU. Sooner we are out the better. However I am not sure how well this would work, a slowing car not showing any brake lights may confuse and cause accidents, we will have to see.

The UK has already stated they will put this idea into place whether in or out of the EU.

All that happens is you then get a procession of vehicles all stuck in the one lane, take a look at the dual carriageway section of the Tarleton by-pass, should really help congestion leaving Southport after major events.

Originally Posted by cotton man

More creeping control from the EU. Sooner we are out the better. However I am not sure how well this would work, a slowing car not showing any brake lights may confuse and cause accidents, we will have to see.

As an EU member we could veto this idea but if you have been reading right wing press for the last 40 years owned by billionaires and tax exiles (the elite) it is hardly surprising that you are blaming the EU for this. Also if a friend or relative of yours was killed by a speeding motorist I suspect your view of this proposal would change.

Awesome news! I like any initiative which is aimed at slowing down traffic speeds. This will definitely lead to improving safety on the roads. Although, the need in a decent car insurance will still be. I choose this option https://www.americaninsurance.com/ge...-you-need-know because I find it very handy.