Volvo Trucks has announced an update to its Driver Alert Support system, which warns drivers when signs of distraction or tiredness are detected. The main innovation is an eye-tracking camera installed above the cab’s side display, monitoring the driver’s gaze direction and issuing an on-screen message together with an audible alert if attention drops. This device works alongside the existing forward-facing camera used in the previous generation, which monitors lane position and driving behaviour to identify deviations typically linked to drowsiness.
According to Volvo Trucks, the combination of the two tools allows earlier and more accurate detection of risky situations. The system activates automatically when the vehicle is started, operates at speeds above 18 km/h and can be switched off with a control, in line with European legislation. If distraction continues, the alerts are repeated with increasing intensity.
The upgrade complies with the EU’s new General Safety Regulation (GSR2), which from July 2026 will make advanced driver distraction warning systems (ADDW) mandatory on trucks. Introducing the system ahead of schedule, explained Volvo Trucks’ director of traffic and product safety, Anna Wrige Berling, is part of the manufacturer’s strategy to cut accidents and provide greater support for drivers facing long working hours.
From November 2025, the enhanced Driver Alert Support will be standard on Volvo’s heavy FH and FM trucks and medium FL and FE models sold in the European Union, as well as in markets such as Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. In other countries it will be available on request, while the current version with only the forward-facing camera will remain on offer. On safety, the Swedish manufacturer recalls that in 2024 the FH and FM models achieved the maximum five-star rating in Euro NCAP tests for heavy vehicles.
