Europe makes speed limiters, breathalysers, driver monitors mandatory from 2022

The European Commission, Parliament and Council have approved legislation to make a raft of safety features, including intelligent speed limiters, breathalyser interlocks and driver safety monitors, standard on vehicles starting from 2022.

The legislation now waits to be formally approved by the European Parliament and EU member states. Ratification is expected to completed by September 2019.

When approved, a suite of a new safety equipment will become mandatory on all-new vehicles from May 2022. These systems are compulsory for new versions of existing models from May 2024.

One of the headline items of this safety package is intelligent speed limiting, which will use GPS and sign recognition to advise the driver of the current speed limit. It will also reduce engine power to limit the car's speed unless it is manually overridden.

The EU hopes to eliminate drunk driving via the alcohol interlock system, while distraction, drowsiness and inattention monitors will also become standard.

Other safety features mandated from 2022 include advanced autonomous emergency braking, lane keeping assistance, reversing cameras and sensors, event data recorder, improved seat belts, and pole side impact protection.

From 2022 trucks and buses will be required to be detect vulnerable road users at the front and sides, and also improve the driver's direct vision of said road users.

Tyre pressure monitors will become standard on all EU-bound vans, trucks and buses.

According to the EU, the new safety systems are projected to save 7300 lives and prevent 38,900 serious injuries by 2030.

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