LABOUR EYES EU CAR SAFETY RULES – All new cars sold in Britain could be equipped with EU-style safety features including black box-style recorders
The UK Government is considering new vehicle regulations that could see all new cars sold in Britain equipped with EU-style safety features—including black box-style recorders, drowsiness alerts, and equipment to support in-car breathalyser devices.
The proposal, which mirrors rules already mandated by the European Union under its General Safety Regulation 2 (GSR2), is raising fresh concerns over the Labour government’s approach to post-Brexit alignment with Brussels.
If adopted, the policy would bring the UK in line with GSR2 regulations, which were introduced after Britain formally exited the EU. Under these rules, new vehicles must be equipped to accommodate in-car breathalyser systems, capable of preventing ignition if a driver fails an alcohol test—though such devices would typically only be activated via court orders for offenders.
Also included in the suite of EU safety features are Event Data Recorders (EDRs), which track a vehicle’s movements in the seconds leading up to a collision, and Driver Drowsiness and Attention Warning (DDAW) systems, which alert drivers showing signs of fatigue.
Labour argues the move is necessary to prevent higher manufacturing costs being passed on to British consumers due to regulatory divergence with the EU. The government says aligning technical standards will simplify production lines for manufacturers who sell across both UK and EU markets.
