Advanced Driver Distraction Warning (ADDW) systems have been mandated by the European Commission as part of the new Vehicle General Safety Regulation (GSR). ADDW systems are designed to monitor driver behaviour and detect signs of inattention, helping tackle the ever-present issue of driver distraction – one of the leading causes of road crashes today.

Introduced in July 2022 to significantly improve safety standards across European roads, the GSR is expected to save over 25,000 lives and avoid at least 140,000 serious injuries by 2038. By recognising technology’s role in enhancing driver safety and reducing risks on the road, this regulation can assist drivers and help better protect passengers, pedestrians and cyclists across the European Union (EU).

Like Driver Drowsiness and Attention Warning (DDAW) systems, Advanced Driver Distraction Warning (ADDW) systems play a critical role in this mission.

What are ADDW systems and when will they be required?

Utilising camera-based technology, ADDW systems detect signs of distraction and provide immediate alerts when a driver’s focus wanes.

This regulation, which took effect in July 2024 for new vehicle types, will also be mandated for all new vehicle registrations from July 2026 and applies to all road vehicles (i.e. cars, vans, trucks and buses).

What is the difference between “new vehicle types” and “newly registered vehicles”?

How do ADDW systems work?

ADDW systems reduce the likelihood of accidents caused by inattention by continuously tracking driver behaviour and intervening immediately when distraction is detected. When distraction parameters are met, the ADDW system provides instant, clear alerts to refocus the driver’s attention on the road. This technology could not be more critical, as the European Commission estimates that driver distraction accounts for 10-30% of all road accidents – a figure that is likely conservative given the challenge of determining contributory factors to a crash after it occurs.

What are the technical requirements of ADDW systems?

A full list of technical requirements can be found on the European Commission’s website, but a few key aspects are outlined below.

• Detection

ADDW systems use cameras and sensors to track a driver’s head position, eye movements, and gaze direction. Advanced, AI-powered algorithms then analyse this data in real time to identify patterns indicating distraction, such as looking at non-driving related areas.

• Measurement

ADDW systems use defined parameters to determine when a driver is distracted, based on gaze duration and direction.

The driver’s gaze is mapped from the “ocular reference point” – a unique eye reference used in vehicle design. The exact reference point depends on the vehicle type (refer to the technical requirements list). The driver’s gaze is then tracked across three key areas:

• • Area 1: This includes places outside the driver’s main forward view, like the roof of the vehicle and extreme side views. These are spots where you shouldn’t need to look often while driving.
  • Area 2: This covers the areas where a driver usually looks, such as the windshield and windows. This is the main focus area where drivers should be paying attention most of the time.
  • Area 3: This includes areas the driver looks down toward, for example the dashboard, centre console, or gear shift area.

(The image above is representative only, exact specifications are provided by the European Commission).

• Alerts

Area 3 is the mandatory region for ADDW system alerting; however, a manufacturer may also elect to alert drivers when their gaze remains in area 1 for a specified period of time.

Alerts are triggered when the driver’s gaze is in area 3 for a continuous period of time and the vehicle is travelling over the speed threshold. For example, when the vehicle’s speed is 20 km/h or above the threshold for alerts must start no later than 6 seconds, however when travelling at 50 km/h or above they must commence by at least 3.5 seconds.

When these conditions are met, ADDW systems must incorporate visual warnings along with an acoustic and/or a haptic warning (e.g. seat vibrations) to alert the driver. These may cascade and intensify until the distraction ceases.

• Privacy and data protection

Like DDAW systems, ADDW systems must function without the use of biometric information, including facial recognition, of any vehicle occupants. It must also operate within a closed-loop system, only recording and retaining data on the device that is necessary for the system to function.

• Other requirements

ADDW systems must adjust to – and operate effectively in – all lighting and weather conditions, and be designed to minimise the system error rate (false positive) in real driving situations.

While they must be automatically activated and deactivated between specified speed thresholds, vehicle manufacturers may choose to set the automatic activation of the ADDW system at a lower speed, along with selecting whether it is possible for the driver to manually deactivate the ADDW warning and/or the ADDW system.

Considerations for heavy vehicle manufacturers

The GSR’s ADDW mandate will have a significant impact for heavy vehicles such as trucks and buses. Given their size and the potential severity of accidents they can cause, addressing driver distraction in these vehicles is critical. The benefits extend beyond GSR compliance for the manufacturer and safer roads across the EU. By minimising crashes, the downtime caused by repairs and investigations is reduced, leading to improved operational efficiency for the fleet owners as well.

ADDW systems need to be tailored for heavy vehicles like trucks and buses. System designs need to take into consideration different ocular reference points, area mapping in varying cabin layouts, and appropriate time and/or speed parameters. The alerts may also need to be adjusted to account for noisy cabin environments.

When looking at ADDW systems, manufacturers should also consider future development. As technology advances, robust systems should be able to incorporate more sophisticated algorithms, potentially including monitoring of other driver behaviours like hand movements or facial expressions to further enhance distraction detection.

The introduction of ADDW systems like Guardian, under the GSR not only reflects the EU’s commitment to reducing road fatalities and serious injuries but also signals a broader shift towards leveraging technology to create safer driving environments. By proactively addressing the issue of driver distraction, this regulation has the potential to save countless lives and set a precedent for heavy vehicle safety standards globally.

Beyond GSR compliance

Once your vehicles are compliant with DDAW and ADDW regulations, Seeing Machines offers additional features and services to add value and increase driver safety.

Contact us to learn more about the full Guardian solution, including an exclusive human intervention offering scientifically proven to reduce fatigue-related driving events by more than 90%.

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