The move aims to contribute to the “Vision Zero” initiative, the EU’s goal to get as close as possible to zero serious injuries and fatalities by the year 2050.

In a 26 March statement issued by the European Commission, Elżbieta Bieńkowska, commissioner, stated that 25,000 people were killed annually on roads in Europe and called for action to improve this, given that some 90% of injuries and fatalities were due to human error. 

In Luxembourg in 2018, a total of 35 people died due to road accidents, an increase from 24 the year prior. Luxembourg has ramped up its efforts to penalise speedsters: in February, mobility minister François Bausch announced the addition of the first average speed check. There are also numerous fixed radars across the grand duchy.

“With the new advanced safety features that will become mandatory, we can have the same kind of impact as when the safety belts were first introduced,” Bieńkowska added. 

“Many of the new features already exist, in particular in high-end vehicles. Now we raise the safety level across the board and pave the way for connected and automated mobility of the future."

The new safety feature requirements vary from vehicle to vehicle, but for cars they will include, among others, speed assistance, black boxes which provide critical data in case of accidents, and warnings for drivers to counter distraction, i.e., using the phone while driving, and drowsiness behind the wheel.