Japan Driver Monitoring Systems Mandate Set for 2031

Japan to Mandate Driver Monitoring Systems

The Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) will mandate Driver Monitoring Systems (DMS) as part of revised domestic vehicle safety standards. The Japan Driver Monitoring Systems mandate will align with international DMS regulations adopted under the UN World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) in March 2026 and scheduled to enter into force in September. The requirement will apply to newly introduced vehicle models from September 2031, while existing models that remain in production will need to comply from September 2033. The policy was outlined at the first meeting of the committee on vehicle safety measures for FY 2026, held in June.

How Driver Monitoring Systems Detect Driver Condition

Driver Monitoring Systems use cameras or other sensors to detect driver drowsiness or inattention and issue alerts, such as warning sounds, based on the driver's condition. The Japan Driver Monitoring Systems mandate reflects the growing adoption of these systems in vehicle safety regulations, with DMS already mandatory in Europe since July 2024. Adoption is also expanding in Japan, where passenger vehicle manufacturers are increasingly equipping models with monitoring technology. The systems are designed to identify driver behaviors associated with distracted driving, including the use of smartphones while driving, and provide warnings intended to help maintain driver attention and reduce safety risks.

WP.29 Requirements for Drowsiness and Inattention Alerts

The requirements under the Japan Driver Monitoring Systems mandate comply with WP.29 standards covering both drowsiness and driver inattention. Under UN-R182, a DMS must operate within a speed range of 70 km/h to 130 km/h and continue operating during deceleration until the vehicle speed falls below 65 km/h. The system must issue an alert when the driver's drowsiness reaches a specified level. Under UN-R183, inattention monitoring must operate at speeds of 20 km/h or higher and monitor the area toward which the driver's gaze is directed, with defined warning conditions based on the duration and location of the driver's gaze.

Specific DMS Warning Conditions Under UN-R183

The inattention requirements establish specific thresholds for detecting potentially unsafe driver behavior. At speeds of 50 km/h or higher, the system must identify when the driver looks down toward the hands or lap area for 3.5 seconds. At speeds above 20 km/h but below 50 km/h, the system must identify when the driver gazes toward the area near the hands for 6 seconds. These requirements are intended to address behaviors such as looking away from the road or interacting with objects while driving. The Japan Driver Monitoring Systems mandate therefore introduces defined operational criteria rather than relying solely on general driver-alerting capabilities.

DMS Requirements Under UN-R182 and UN-R183

The international requirements establish separate operating conditions for drowsiness and inattention detection, creating defined performance expectations for systems installed in vehicles. The drowsiness provisions focus on operating speed and the point at which an alert must be issued, while the inattention provisions specify minimum operating speeds and gaze-duration thresholds. These requirements provide the technical basis for Japan's planned domestic safety-standard revision and will determine how qualifying Driver Monitoring Systems operate when the mandate takes effect for new models in September 2031 and existing models in production in September 2033.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will Japan require Driver Monitoring Systems?
Japan will introduce mandatory Driver Monitoring Systems requirements through revised domestic vehicle safety standards aligned with international WP.29 regulations. The requirement will apply to newly introduced vehicle models from September 2031, while existing models that remain in production will be covered from September 2033. The systems must comply with requirements addressing both driver drowsiness and inattention. These provisions include specified operating speeds, gaze-monitoring conditions, and warning thresholds intended to detect behaviors such as looking toward the hands or lap area and other forms of distracted driving.