Volvo Trucks introduces upgraded Driver Alert Support with eye-tracking

Volvo Trucks has updated its Driver Alert Support with an eye-tracking camera to meet EU safety rules effective 2026, aiming to reduce driver fatigue and distraction.

Volvo Trucks has unveiled an updated driver warning system that now includes an eye-tracking camera. The technology is designed to raise road safety standards and anticipates upcoming European legislation that will take effect in 2026.

The new version of “Driver Alert Support” combines two cameras: a forward-facing unit monitoring lane keeping and truck positioning, and an eye-tracking camera mounted above the side display. When signs of fatigue or distraction are detected, the driver receives a pop-up alert accompanied by an audible warning. If the inattentive driving continues, the warnings escalate in intensity.

A key aspect is compliance with the EU’s General Safety Regulation, whose second phase becomes mandatory in July 2026. Under these rules, such systems must automatically activate at speeds of 20 km/h or higher and detect prolonged episodes of driver distraction. Volvo has opted for a slightly lower threshold, with activation beginning at 18 km/h. Importantly, the company emphasizes that the system does not store biometric data.

The updated solution will be standard on Volvo FH, FM, FL, and FE models across Europe, as well as in the UK, Switzerland, and Norway. It will be available as an option in other markets, while outside the EU the existing version with a single forward-facing camera will remain on offer. Production is scheduled to start in November 2025.

Volvo has not released technical specifications for the eye-tracking camera itself, nor are there published results from large-scale field tests. The announcement comes shortly before production, which explains the lack of detailed metrics. What is clear, however, is that Volvo’s flagship FH and FM models achieved the top five-star rating in Euro NCAP’s first safety test for heavy trucks in 2024, reinforcing the company’s strong safety record.

The trucking industry in Europe and beyond is entering a decisive phase. With GSR2 regulations requiring Advanced Driver Distraction Warning systems from 2026, all manufacturers will need to follow suit. Volvo’s move to present a concrete production-ready solution positions it as a frontrunner and sets the pace for the rest of the industry.