What are ADAS and why will they be mandatory in vehicles starting in July?

The European Union has taken a proactive approach to improving road safety. The New Safety Regulation 2019/2144 establishes requirements for the general safety of vehicles and their occupants, with the aim of drastically reducing traffic accidents. With almost 1 million accidents occurring annually on the roads of the European Union, the EU's vision is to reach figures close to zero deaths and zero serious injuries by 2050.

As of July 6, all cars and light vans marketed in Europe must include 7 ADAS systems, in addition to the black boxes, which until now were optional in newly approved vehicles. These systems are designed to improve safety and the driving experience, detecting potential dangers and helping the driver avoid accidents. Let's look at some of the systems that will be mandatory:

Drowsiness Detector (DDR): Alerts the driver when it detects signs of fatigue or lack of attention.

Lane Departure Warning (LDW): Notifies the driver if they involuntarily leave the lane without previously indicating it.

Intelligent Speed ​​Assist (ISA): Controls the speed of the vehicle and helps the driver to respect speed limits.

Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA): Warns the driver of vehicles in the transverse direction when reversing.

Emergency braking system (BAS and EBA): Reduces the braking distance and detects obstacles to activate braking automatically if necessary.

Belt use alert in all seats: Notify if any passenger does not have their seat belt fastened.

Start inhibitor with breathalyzer: Prevents the vehicle from starting if the driver exceeds the permitted alcohol limit.

In addition to ADAS, European regulations also make it mandatory to install black boxes in all new vehicles. These devices collect data before, during and after an accident, providing crucial information to understand the causes and improve road safety.

With these technological advances, a significant improvement in safety on European roads is expected. ADAS have the potential to prevent or mitigate up to 40% of accidents, 37% of serious injuries and 29% of deaths, according to scientific studies.

In short, drivers should become familiar with these new systems and be prepared to adapt to the changes ahead. Road safety is everyone's responsibility, let's stay alert on the road!