The General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) reminds Canary Islands drivers of the imminent entry into force of a new European regulation that will require vehicles to incorporate driver assistance technologies (ADAS). These systems aim to reduce road accidents caused by distractions and improve the protection of vulnerable users such as pedestrians and cyclists.

The measure, part of the European GRS2 (General Road Safety 2) regulation, will apply to all cars registered for the first time from July 6, 2026. Until now, these systems were necessary for the homologation of new models, but the new date extends the obligation to the entire range of new vehicles.

The two new mandatory systems are the Driver Drowsiness and Distraction Detection System (DDR-ADR), which analyzes driver attention using cameras and sensors to alert of fatigue or distraction, and the Autonomous Emergency Braking for Pedestrians and Cyclists (AEB-PCD), capable of applying the brakes if it detects a collision risk and the driver does not react.

According to DGT data, distraction was a factor in 24% of fatal accidents on interurban roads in Spain. European estimates suggest that the automatic braking system could reduce pedestrian collisions by up to 30% and accidents involving cyclists by 45%.

These ADAS systems are in addition to other technologies already mandatory in new vehicles, such as lane keeping assist, tire pressure monitoring, intelligent speed assistance, drowsiness detector, emergency automatic braking, and accident data recorder. The European Union's objective is to reduce road casualties through technology, minimizing human errors without replacing the driver's role.