In a written answer to a parliamentary question on 6 August 2026, Executive Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné ruled out any immediate EU-wide mandate for acoustic turning warning systems on lorries and buses, and confirmed there are no plans to require retrofitting of existing fleets. Responding to MEP Pascal Arimont (PPE), Séjourné pointed to existing mandatory safety features under Regulation (EU) 2019/2144, which since July 2024 requires all new trucks and buses to be equipped with blind-spot information and collision warning systems that alert drivers to vulnerable road users when turning. He also noted that from January 2029, new vehicles must provide enhanced direct visibility from the driver's seat, and that the revised Driving Licence Directive (EU) 2025/2205, applicable from 26 November 2029, mandates more focused testing for heavy-duty vehicle drivers.
Séjourné's answer underscores a cautious, evidence-based approach: the Commission will evaluate the effectiveness of these measures in 2027, and any legislative proposal for additional mandatory requirements would follow a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis and impact assessment. On retrofit, he explicitly stated that "there are currently no plans to mandate at EU level the retrofit of existing fleet with turning assistance," instead recognising national, regional, and local initiatives—such as Milan's restrictions on heavy vehicles in urban areas—as appropriate avenues for promoting retrofit solutions.
The reply reflects a deliberate balance between advancing road safety and avoiding disproportionate regulatory and economic burdens on the automotive industry and fleet operators. By deferring any decision on acoustic alarms and retrofit mandates until after the 2027 evaluation, the Commission prioritises a data-driven, cost-conscious approach over immediate regulatory action. This stance may disappoint road safety advocates and vulnerable road user groups who have called for quicker, more prescriptive measures, but it offers predictability for manufacturers and transport companies, which face significant compliance costs with each new mandate. The 2027 evaluation will be a key milestone, potentially opening the door to stricter requirements, but for now the Commission is signalling that it will not rush new rules without solid evidence of their effectiveness and economic impact.