Volvo Trucks is upgrading its Driver Alert Support system with a driver eye-tracking camera, aiming to provide even better support for truck drivers and increase road safety.
Long hours on the road require continuous attention from truck drivers. Volvo is now enhancing its Driver Alert Support system to improve its ability to detect and alert drivers who show signs of inattention or drowsiness. The goal of this more advanced system is to provide better driver support and contribute to increased road safety.
The upgraded Driver Alert Support system uses two cameras to detect signs of drowsiness or inattention while driving. A new driver eye-tracking camera, positioned above the side display in the truck, identifies signs of distraction and alerts the driver with a pop-up message and an audible warning. A forward-facing camera, part of the existing Driver Alert Support system, monitors driving behavior and the truck’s position in relation to the lane and road surface, thereby detecting signs of fatigue or inattentive driving.
“After several hours of driving, it can be difficult to stay alert and focused behind the wheel. The upgraded Driver Alert Support system is now even better at detecting and warning a driver who shows signs of fatigue or distraction. Our goal is to support drivers and help protect both them and other road users,” says Anna Wrige Berling, Traffic and Product Safety Director at Volvo Trucks.
“We continuously develop and introduce additional safety systems. At Volvo Trucks, our long-term vision is zero accidents, and safety is at the core of everything we do.”
The upgraded Driver Alert Support system already meets the new European safety legislation, the General Safety Regulation (GSR2) — including the second phase that comes into force in July 2026, which requires all trucks in the EU to be equipped with Driver Drowsiness and Attention Warning (ADDW) systems. The new driver eye-tracking camera from Volvo is active at speeds above 18 km/h.
The upgraded Driver Alert Support system will be standard on Volvo’s heavy-duty trucks (Volvo FH and FM), as well as on its medium-duty trucks (Volvo FL and FE) in the EU and in certain markets outside the EU, such as Norway, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. It will also be available as an option in other markets. The new system will go into production in November 2025. Outside the EU, Volvo will also continue to offer the current Driver Alert Support system with the forward-facing camera.
Safety is a core value for Volvo Trucks, and its most popular models — the Volvo FH and Volvo FM — received the top five-star rating in Euro NCAP’s first heavy truck safety test in 2024.
This is the upgraded Driver Alert Support system:
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The system is based on two cameras. A driver eye-tracking camera detects signs of inattention based on where the driver is looking. A forward-facing camera monitors the road markings and compares them with steering movements.
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If signs of inattention or drowsiness are detected, the driver is alerted with a pop-up message and an audible warning.
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If inattentive driving continues, another pop-up message appears along with an escalating audible warning.
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The system activates automatically when the engine is started.
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Driver Alert Support can be deactivated via a switch (a legal requirement under the GSR).
