The requirements for which safety systems new cars must be equipped with are being tightened continuously, and on Sunday the latest set of legal requirements will come into effect.
The rules already apply to car models that have been type-approved after July 2022, and now apply to all cars sold within the EU.
Read more: Using the mobile phone while driving – what does the law actually say?
Will save 25,000 lives
The goal of tightening the requirements on which safety systems must be in the cars is to reduce the number of accidents and increase road safety.
According to the EU’s calculations, different types of active safety systems should prevent at least 25,000 deaths from traffic accidents until 2038.
Read more: List: 10 best-looking sports cars ever – do you agree?
The car should beep when speeding
Perhaps the most talked about safety system that must be in all new cars is called ISA, and means that the car warns every time you drive over the speed limit.
The system is activated every time you start the car, and should not be able to be switched off permanently. By clicking into the car’s menu, however, the system can be switched off.
The car must warn when you drive too fast – Photo: Christine Olsson/TT
Another of the systems that, as of Sunday, must be in all cars is lane keeping assistance, which should prevent the driver from accidentally drifting out of his lane.
In future, all cars must also have an automatic brake, and when braking harder, the brake lights must flash to warn drivers behind.
Read more: Middle managers are suing their jobs: Denied Porsche as a company car
Reversing camera, parking sensors and fatigue warning
It will also become more difficult to hit cars, pedestrians and stationary objects when reversing, as it will now be required that either a reversing camera or parking sensors are fitted.
A fatigue warning system that tells you when the driver is not paying attention is also a requirement from Sunday, as is a so-called “black box” that records data about driving for use in accident investigations.
Cyber security is also taken into account in the new regulations, and a number of older models have stopped being sold as they do not meet the latest requirements. One of the more talked about is the outgoing version of the Porsche Macan, which is no longer sold in the EU but lives on in the UK.
Read more: Packed the car for the trip? Then it could cost you thousands