Driver-monitoring cameras: What is changing with new cars in France

All new cars registered in France and across the EU from Tuesday (July 7) must be fitted with two previously optional safety systems as standard: a driver-monitoring camera and an upgraded automatic emergency braking system with a new stop-light signal.

The rules apply to newly type-approved vehicles being sold from this date and are part of a wider EU road safety push. The European Commission has said the measures could prevent up to 25,000 deaths and 140,000 serious injuries across Europe by 2038.

An in-car camera watching the driver

The most eye-catching change is the introduction of a small infrared camera, sometimes referred to as a dashcam, positioned either above the steering wheel, on the windscreen pillar (known as the A-pillar), or near the left wing mirror, depending on the make and model.

Clément Lefèvre, spokesperson for MG Motor France, explained to Franceinfo how it works: "It will constantly monitor the driver's eyes, so that if their attention wanders away from the road [for too long], it triggers an alert."

According to reports, the system will sound an alert within about four seconds of detecting a problem, but only when the car is travelling at more than 50km/h. For now, the camera simply issues a warning to the driver, it does not take any control of the vehicle. It is similar to existing steering wheel hand-detection sensors used by some manufacturers.

Emergency braking and a new flashing stop light

The second major change is the widespread rollout of Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), a system already used in some vehicles that will now be compulsory for all new cars.

Using onboard sensors, AEB is designed to detect pedestrians and cyclists and brake automatically to avoid a collision. From speeds of 10km/h, it must also be able to detect the risk of collision with other motor vehicles or fixed obstacles.

Linked to this is a new Emergency Stop Signal (ESS). When a car brakes sharply from speeds above 50km/h, its brake lights will now flash rather than simply stay lit, giving drivers behind a clearer, more visible warning that an emergency stop is under way.

These two features come in addition to other driver-assistance systems that were already mandatory, including lane-keeping assistance and obstacle detection.

Will new cars become too expensive?

The extra technology does not come free. Arnaud Aymé, a transport specialist at consultancy SIA, told French radio station RMC that the cost typically runs into the hundreds of euros, rising to around €1,000 depending on the model.

"That remains marginal on high-end models, but it is quite significant on entry-level ones," he said, warning that it could push some buyers towards second-hand cars or encourage them to keep their existing vehicle for longer.

Flavien Neuvy, director of the Cetelem car industry observatory, echoed the concern.

"It is between €500 and €800 per vehicle. In the end, motorists are buying fewer and fewer new cars, or hardly any at all. They are turning to the second-hand market instead. At some point, it can become counter-productive to keep adding more and more electronic equipment, making cars ever more expensive with ever fewer buyers," he said.

Despite the added cost, the European Commission maintains that the long-term safety benefits - tens of thousands of lives saved and injuries prevented over the next decade or so, justify the new requirements.