Some mandatory systems are unnecessary and drive up the cost of new cars, though. Things like backup cameras, adaptive cruise control, and lane assist add very little to road safety (research has even shown that people relying on these features even start paying less attention on the road), but are mandatory.
Safety features that are easier to defend (automatic emergency braking, driver fatigue detection, driver distraction warning systems, black boxes, tire pressure monitors, "intelligent speed assistance", oncoming vehicle detection) are also adding a whole heap of electronics to cars that drive up the base price of any vehicle. Then there were the inherent privacy risks when the EU wanted to introduce mandatory, automated SOS call functionality ("eCall") on crashes (because their mobile modems are basically tracking devices you're not allowed to remove) but the requirements were altered to keep the modem off under non-crash circumstances.
You can't rip out the touch screen of your car and replace it with physical buttons unless you also figure out how to make the reversing camera work. Modifications to the outside of your car may also be a challenge because you need to keep the lane assist system working or your car won't pass the mandatory safety inspections.
I'm in favour of most new safety systems, but EU regulations seem to be making some very strange choices in this regard that make it impossible for newcomers to have even a remote chance of coming to market. The rules are excluding a whole bunch of Chinese and Indian cars (on purpose), but also stifling competition from new EU manufacturers.
> You can't rip out the touch screen of your car and replace it with physical buttons unless you also figure out how to make the reversing camera work. Modifications to the outside of your car may also be a challenge because you need to keep the lane assist system working or your car won't pass the mandatory safety inspections.
Sorry, the only thing I could find on the topic was that the vehicles manufactured after 2024 need to have a back-up camera when sold on the EU market, nothing about you actually ripping it out, can you please link?
That said, you, personally, may not need a back-up camera, but considering the general public, do you not think it would be a net-benefit? The general public includes inept/distracted drivers, and old people who don't see or can't turn around easily. I can easily see people being saved by appearing in the back-up camera of an inept driver while the vehicle flashes red lights and sounds alarms.
There is of course the lobbying angle to this -- more mandatory base features means auto vendors can safely drive up the base prices without fear of competition. The real question is is this going to lead to a net reduction of vehicle accidents?
>Things like backup cameras, adaptive cruise control, and lane assist add very little to road safety (research has even shown that people relying on these features even start paying less attention on the road), but are mandatory.
I could believe it about the other things, but I really don't see how backup cameras fit in that list
Oh lane assist is another good example. People daydream and often wander off of their line...
Intelligent speed adaptation solutions are also very interesting, especially the closed type. I live in a country where the highway speed limit was raised from 110 to 130kph so that drivers going up to 180kph don't get their drivers license suspended and vehicle impounded and are just slapped with a fine. I kid you not.
Driving the speed limit is als frowned upon by many fellow drivers. It's so bad that the government has started to put physical barriers between the lines to prevent illegal overtaking on several high risk two-lane roads because so many people die due to head-on collisions that it starts to pose a problem with the public...
Regarding the speed limit, I have mixed feelings about it.
They seem outdated, even 20-30 year old cars are stable enough on the road to go 80-100km/h instead of 50. Germany has shown that driving as fast as the car can go is not the main cause for car accidents.
With some exceptions where I think they're doing something good, like dangerous curves, they are mostly used by police to make money for the city/government.
Safety features that are easier to defend (automatic emergency braking, driver fatigue detection, driver distraction warning systems, black boxes, tire pressure monitors, "intelligent speed assistance", oncoming vehicle detection) are also adding a whole heap of electronics to cars that drive up the base price of any vehicle. Then there were the inherent privacy risks when the EU wanted to introduce mandatory, automated SOS call functionality ("eCall") on crashes (because their mobile modems are basically tracking devices you're not allowed to remove) but the requirements were altered to keep the modem off under non-crash circumstances.
You can't rip out the touch screen of your car and replace it with physical buttons unless you also figure out how to make the reversing camera work. Modifications to the outside of your car may also be a challenge because you need to keep the lane assist system working or your car won't pass the mandatory safety inspections.
I'm in favour of most new safety systems, but EU regulations seem to be making some very strange choices in this regard that make it impossible for newcomers to have even a remote chance of coming to market. The rules are excluding a whole bunch of Chinese and Indian cars (on purpose), but also stifling competition from new EU manufacturers.