일본, ‘나가라 운전’에 골치…2031년부터 차량서 ‘딴짓 경보’ 울린다

The Japanese government plans to make it mandatory for all new vehicles to install a device that warns drivers when they engage in "ちねラ 운전" (distraction driving) or drowsy driving starting from 2031. The Nikkei Shimbun reported on May 24 that the country's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport (MLIT) will mandate the installation of a "driver monitoring system (DMS)" that uses cameras and sensors to detect when drivers become drowsy or engage in other distractions.

This system will alert drivers by sounding an alarm when their gaze remains fixed on the road for over 3.5 seconds at speeds of 50 km/h or more, or for over 6 seconds at speeds between 20-50 km/h. The warning system will apply to all new models starting in September 2031, and then to all models produced in the following two years.

This initiative is primarily aimed at preventing "ちねラ(while doing)" driving accidents, a common issue in Japan. According to police statistics, there were 148 fatal or serious injury accidents in 2022 due to drivers using their mobile phones or engaging in other distractions. The number of traffic accidents involving mobile phone use has averaged 1,430 per year since 2021. The MLIT has determined that drivers should be warned when their attention is not on the road for the specified durations based on their speed.

The standards for this system were adopted at the 2021 UN World Forum on Automotive Regulations (WP29), which includes 64 countries and regions, including South Korea, Japan, Germany, and Italy, that have ratified the 1958 Geneva Convention on the establishment of uniform technical regulations for road vehicles. While each country can decide whether to implement the standards, they are based on internationally agreed upon criteria.

Some Japanese vehicle models already include driver monitoring systems, but the government has not made it mandatory. The EU has already implemented a gradual requirement for driver monitoring systems in all vehicles sold within its member countries. Japan is expected to quickly follow this global trend. From a business perspective, the automotive industry sees both the need to prioritize safety and the potential for market expansion as the mandatory installation of these systems becomes more widespread.

According to Nikkei Shimbun, the global market for driver monitoring systems is expected to reach ¥125.66 billion (approximately $870 million) by 2035, with growth rates accelerating to 55 times larger within 14 years.