The EU Regulation 2019/2144, effective from July 7, 2024, mandates the installation of several electronic safety systems on newly registered industrial vehicles, including buses. These systems, known as ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems), include the following:
- Intelligent Speed Adaptation (ISA): Alerts the driver to speed limits using signage and digital maps. It does not control the engine but warns if speed limits are exceeded.
- Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB): Detects obstacles in the vehicle's path and activates braking to prevent collisions.
- Driver Drowsiness and Attention Warning (DDR-AW): Monitors driver behavior and alerts in case of distraction or fatigue.
- Lane Keeping Assist (LKA): Adjusts steering and brakes to keep the vehicle in its lane if it drifts without signaling.
- Reversing Detection (REV): Alerts the driver to the presence of people or objects behind the vehicle during maneuvers.
- Event Data Recorder (black box): Anonymously records driving parameters before and after an accident for analysis.
- Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS): Monitors tire pressure.
- Alcohol Interlock Installation Facilitation (ALC): Prevents engine start if the driver's blood alcohol level is too high.
- Pedestrian and Cyclist Collision Warning (PCW): Detects pedestrians and cyclists.
- Blind Spot Information System (BLIS): Monitors blind spots.
- Emergency Stop Signal (ESS): Activates flashing lights to signal sudden braking.
Additionally, manufacturers must install systems that enable data transmission between vehicles for future telematics applications, such as platooning. Currently, this ADAS mandate applies only to newly registered industrial vehicles and does not extend to existing fleets. Most manufacturers have already equipped some of the ADAS that will become mandatory. The EU estimates that ADAS could reduce road fatalities by up to 20% and injuries by up to 12%. However, the complete ADAS package has increased the cost of industrial vehicles by €4,000-€5,000.
The EU Regulation also includes other systems that will become mandatory in the coming years. By 2026, newly approved industrial vehicles must include the Advanced Driver Distraction Warning (ADDW), a more sophisticated system than the DDR-AW, which monitors eye movements to detect prolonged distractions. By 2029, the Event Data Recorder (EDR) will become mandatory for newly registered industrial vehicles, recording driving data anonymously before and after an incident for dynamic analysis.
