Incoming EU safety regulations impact new cars purchased in France

New vehicles registered in France will soon have to comply with stricter European safety regulations, including new emergency flashing lights that activate during heavy braking. 

From July 7 onwards, all vehicles being registered for the first time must have an Emergency Stop Signal (ESS) flashing brake light, required under the EU’s General Safety Regulation 2. 

First passed in 2019, the European regulations have seen a series of safety features become mandatory on a phased basis for vehicles on EU roads. The July 2026 rules are the third set of new requirements to be implemented.

Note that the rules only apply to new vehicles being registered, and not to existing vehicles being registered by a new owner.

This is also the case for vehicles being imported to the EU – if a vehicle has already been registered outside of the EU and is then imported into the bloc, it does not need to adhere to the new requirements and will not need to be retrofitted with new equipment.

As of February 2026, the UK government was considering implementing these safety proposals, but is yet to officially do so.

Brake lights, cruise control, drowsiness alert 

The new safety regulations cover a series of requirements, largely technical safety features, for new vehicles. 

For example, ESS lights automatically turn on when vehicles drive at 50km/h or faster then brake quickly. 

The flashing alerts drivers behind the vehicle, but only when vehicles suddenly brake – at normal speeds, the lights act normally. 

Studies have shown drivers are more receptive to flashing lights than static lights.

Drivers gain up to 0.2 seconds of reaction time when ESS lights are installed in the vehicle in front of them, allowing them an additional five metres of movement when vehicles are travelling at 100km/h. 

This can reduce the risk of accidents by giving vehicles more time themselves to brake or swerve to avoid collisions. 

Alongside the new lights, vehicles also need mechanisms for: 

• Automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection

• Drowsiness detection

• Intelligent cruise control  

• Lane-keeping assist in critical situations

• Event data recorder, also known as a “black box”

• Technical preparation for a future ignition interlock system using a breathalyser

Do drivers need to do anything? 

The regulations may affect vehicle purchases in France and other EU member states, but drivers do not need to actively do anything. 

Vehicles not yet fitted with these technologies are not required to have them retroactively installed.

This means vehicles will not be tested on having these features as part of future roadworthiness (contrôle technique) tests, nor see them required to be fitted at these appointments.

In addition, the requirements are in place for car manufacturers to have these devices installed in new vehicles as standard (not optional extras).

Those buying a new vehicle should therefore not have to specifically ask for the features, as they should come as standard on all models sold after July 7.

Some older models may already have these features as standard.