The UK government has confirmed it will mandate 18 advanced vehicle safety technologies in all new cars sold in Great Britain, a move that could significantly increase the cost of new vehicles. The decision follows a public consultation and is part of the government's broader Road Safety Strategy, which aims to reduce road deaths and serious injuries by 65% by 2035.
New Mandatory Features Include Automatic Braking and Speed Assistance
The Department for Transport (DfT) will require all new vehicles to be equipped with technologies such as automatic emergency braking for cyclists, pedestrians, and other vehicles, as well as intelligent speed assistance that can automatically reduce speed when the limit is exceeded. Other features include driver distraction warnings, blind spot detection, drowsiness alerts, and lane-keeping corrections.
According to the DfT's response to the consultation, these technologies are expected to prevent collisions and reduce injury severity, particularly for vulnerable road users like pedestrians and cyclists. The government argues that mandating these features will not only improve safety but also support the growth and competitiveness of the UK's automotive sector.
Government and Safety Experts Back the Proposals
Simon Lightwood MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the DfT, said: "While the United Kingdom has long been recognised for its strong road safety record, progress in reducing fatalities and serious injuries has slowed in recent years. With over 1,600 lives lost and 28,000 people seriously injured on our roads in 2024 alone, further action is needed."
Road safety charity Brake has also endorsed the plans, noting that public support is strong. "As Brake showed in the Vehicle Safety Technology report, 87% said safety rating is important when choosing a new car, with 68% of drivers believing advanced emergency braking should be mandatory for all new vehicles in the UK, and 66% saying they would pay more for safety features," the organisation said.
Concerns Over Rising Costs and Reliability
However, the consultation revealed opposition from some respondents who argued that the new requirements could cause vehicle prices to skyrocket. The DfT acknowledged these concerns, stating: "Those who opposed mandating some or all the technologies raised several concerns, primarily about cost, including potential impacts on vehicle prices, repair bills and long-term maintenance expenses."
Reliability was another issue raised, with respondents questioning how the systems would perform on rural roads or in poor weather, where road markings may be unclear or systems might generate false alerts.
Full List of Mandatory Technologies
The 18 technologies to be mandated include: advanced distraction warning, blind spot information system, drowsiness and attention warning, direct vision, emergency braking for cyclists, emergency braking for pedestrians, emergency braking for vehicles, event data recorder, emergency lane keeping system, emergency stop signal, frontal full-width impact, frontal offset impact, intelligent speed assistance, moving off information system, pole side impact, pedestrian windscreen impact, reversing motion awareness, and tyre pressure monitoring system.
Notably, the government decided not to mandate alcohol interlock interface facilitation (AIIF), which would have required a connection for aftermarket breathalyser devices.
Impact on Drivers and the Automotive Industry
These new rules will apply to all new vehicles sold in Great Britain, potentially affecting car prices across the market. While the government and safety groups argue the benefits outweigh the costs, drivers may face higher upfront expenses. The DfT's summary noted that many supporters of the measures cited their potential to save lives and reduce serious injuries, aligning with the government's target of a 65% reduction in road deaths by 2035.
As the legislation progresses, manufacturers will need to adapt their production lines to include these features as standard, which could also influence the used car market over time.
