Phone-Use and Drowsy-Driving Detection to Become Mandatory in New Cars from 2031, Japan’s Transport Ministry Says

Written by

in

Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) has settled on a policy to mandate that new vehicle models be equipped with a “driver monitoring system” that detects and warns drivers who are operating a smartphone or dozing off while driving, starting in 2031. Existing models will also be required to comply by 2033.

On the thread, users debated the resulting rise in vehicle prices from the mandatory equipment, how the rollout compares to the EU, the US, and other countries, the emergence of workaround devices like limiter-removers, and the impact on auto repair shops.

8/24 (Mon) 14:27 — Jiji Press

MLIT has settled on a policy to mandate, for both domestic and imported vehicles, the installation of a “Driver Monitoring System (DMS)” that detects and warns drivers who are looking away or dozing off while operating their smartphone.

This was learned from an interview with the ministry on the 24th. The ministry will revise the relevant ministerial ordinance in September, applying the requirement to new models from 2031, and mandating installation on existing models still in production by 2033.

Source: news.yahoo.co.jp / Original article here

2Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 17:22:17.82ID:iQnJYN070
Cars are about to get even more expensive.
17Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 17:25:09.57ID:cPL6jXOf0
>>2
And if it's broken at your next shaken (mandatory vehicle inspection), that's another ¥500,000 down the drain.
46Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 17:33:15.17ID:/NNG1CD90
>>2
Prices just keep climbing because of idiots.
51Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 17:34:18.81ID:gZDqpgcy0
Oh really?
What about the cars that went touchscreen-crazy to cut costs, forcing you to fumble with a screen just to do anything?
Those cars are a hazard in themselves.
4Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 17:22:49.21ID:A4uIk4Y80
If it's just a beep-beep-beep warning, isn't that pointless?
11Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 17:24:16.29ID:ktnDuCGf0
>>4
Slap on a new feature and now they've got an excuse to sell a kei car for ¥3 million.
105Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 17:48:28.28ID:uiwE9JXM0
>>4
Honestly I want it to give you an electric shock or something.
128Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 17:55:11.00ID:rzCMbUQQ0
>>4
If you keep ignoring it, shouldn't it just report you to the police?
8Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 17:23:41.63ID:e+b0DgXa0
A future where Japan gets slammed for non-tariff barriers.
21Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 17:26:55.17ID:TWIN4Rhr0
>>8
Europe's already made it mandatory and the US is working toward requiring it too, so Japan's just falling in line.
60Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 17:38:15.85ID:FPotysVz0
>>8
METI will obviously try hard to dodge that framing.
And what does "adopted at the forum" mentioned in the article have to do with it becoming mandatory anyway?
19Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 17:26:52.01ID:jOjZs4Vw0
(;゚Д゚) Starting in 2031? They're not even trying.
Do it starting today.
28Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 17:29:10.95ID:rH8gnGes0
>>19
Do you even drive normally, Koro-neko? (a poster's screen name)
111Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 17:50:03.72ID:sxMZHCzv0
>>19
That's some foul language for a cat lol
30Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 17:29:43.26ID:w3JLI9Oy0
They should make it auto-report to the police.
Also, honking the horn should automatically alert the police too.
42Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 17:32:44.30ID:Px4CKSZf0
>>30
So if some idiot pulls out of a convenience store without checking either side and you honk, the cops show up every single time?
Think about the hassle for both sides, genius.
179Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 18:06:32.95ID:Nd8BICpD0
>>42
But you only honk after the other guy's already noticed you — it's basically spite at that point, right?
If it looks like they're about to pull out, just slow down or stop. What a pain.
56Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 17:35:51.02ID:IEkoksv20
Makes you wonder what people are even watching while driving.
The lady who caused that rear-end collision that burst into flames was watching a cooking video, apparently.
70Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 17:39:54.03ID:PUUxgHtC0
>>56
Probably some boring YouTube video.
There are still idiots out there mounting their phone on the steering wheel to watch stuff.
80Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 17:42:26.84ID:cEAH7doV0
>>56
Same thing you're doing browsing 5ch right now.
These days the smartphone IS humanity's main body — everything else is just an accessory.
59Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 17:38:13.22ID:rg4qRo6/0
They should add a machine that scans your license too.
248Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 18:23:14.85ID:NnrKb0Vu0
>>59
Scanners break down easily.
Fine if you're okay with suddenly being told "you can't drive" because of that.
93Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 17:45:15.62ID:zaqYL9pN0
I wonder if there'll be any incentive — like cheaper insurance or a subsidy. If there's nothing, used cars are going to sell like crazy.
101Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 17:47:57.24ID:0DxfVoO20
>>93
That's what happened in the US.
If your gaze isn't steady it'll cut the engine or set off an alarm on its own — it's got a terrible reputation.
117Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 17:51:56.08ID:OavOzNiQ0
>>93
Probably will happen — in the form of your insurance going up if you don't have it.
153Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 17:59:57.88ID:LY5dyyUO0
Cars are already expensive enough as it is, and that's part of why the birthrate's falling — stop tacking on unnecessary features.
We'll lose in global competition too.
156Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 18:00:57.55ID:wUjI0LQH0
>>153
It's being mandated in the EU and the US too, so how would we lose lol
162Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 18:01:55.02ID:1yTcYIMT0
>>156
The world's largest auto market is China.
188Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 18:08:27.76ID:xvkhldW20
>>156
Even ordinary Europeans are starting to buckle under rising car prices.
Only people with access to a company-car scheme can afford a new Western European brand.
For everyone else, a new Western European car is completely out of reach.
If they scrape the money together at all, it's for an Eastern European or Chinese car.
197Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 18:10:46.39ID:RVslmaT/0
>>188
It'll be mandatory for Chinese self-driving cars too, and since it's an international standard adopted by the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP29), it's being rolled out across EU countries, including Eastern Europe.
206Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 18:13:56.31ID:1yTcYIMT0
>>197
China will probably pull it off cheap with their own tech. My next car might just be Chinese.
208Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 18:14:06.72ID:xvkhldW20
>>197
Well, it's very clear your Japanese isn't very good.
203Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 18:12:32.38ID:E3v0ZXrm0
Like these will actually sell.
Give it a few days and a limiter-removal device will show up.
204Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 18:13:06.68ID:SryKA+/T0
>>203
Things like that deserve harsh punishment.
Honestly, attempted murder charges would be fine too.
214Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 18:15:37.23ID:1yTcYIMT0
>>203
Yeah, it'll show up. Similar devices, like idling-stop cancelers, are already common.
222Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 18:17:14.97ID:NbY0Ckbv0
So what happens when it detects you dozing off?
Does the car just stop suddenly?
229Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 18:18:10.55ID:RVslmaT/0
>>203
Subaru's had it for 5 years already and no canceler device has shown up, right?
The 90-series Noah/Voxy has it too, and I don't think there's a canceler for that either.

>>222
Some systems sound the horn, turn on the hazards, and bring the car to a stop.
Probably depends on the car.
221Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 18:17:07.07ID:f5ZpEKxp0
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HQefaK8a0AAcqKM.jpg
243Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 18:22:32.30ID:egFuo0Gx0
Since it has to be removed and resynced every single time you do maintenance, the job takes way longer than the work-hours manufacturers budget for. In the US, where this rolled out early, mechanics are quitting left and right and a month-long wait for repairs is now common.
252Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 18:24:42.11ID:1yTcYIMT0
>>243
Home appliances used to be repairable too, but then it became "swap the whole assembly," and eventually it turned into "just throw it out and buy a new one."
258Anonymous2026/08/24(月) 18:25:50.58ID:FPotysVz0
>>243
Is that the "aiming" calibration thing?
This is an interior-facing monitor though — is that kind of work even necessary for it?

*This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (News Express+) thread “Distracted and Drowsy Driving Detection to Become Mandatory — Applies to New Cars from 2031, MLIT Policy.”

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *