Since 7 July 2026, one rule applies in the EU and Switzerland: every passenger car registered for the first time must be fitted with the ADDW driver distraction warning (“Advanced Driver Distraction Warning”). For dealers importing vehicles from the EU, one question matters most: when was the car first registered?
Which imported vehicles are affected
Switzerland adopts the EU vehicle registration rules, so the date of first registration decides:
- First registered on or after 7 July 2026: ADDW must be on board – whether the vehicle is first registered in the EU or directly in Switzerland.
- First registered before 7 July 2026: the vehicle is not affected. No retrofitting is required.
When buying new cars that have not yet been registered, ADDW therefore belongs on the checklist.
How the distraction warning works
- Camera: an infrared camera in the cockpit tracks the driver’s head position, gaze direction and eye movements.
- Warning: if the driver looks away for too long, for example at a smartphone, the system issues a warning. Between 20 and 50 km/h this happens after more than 6 seconds, above 50 km/h after more than 3.5 seconds.
- Data: no biometric data is stored and faces are not uniquely identified. All data stays in the vehicle.
- Switching off: ADDW can be deactivated, but it switches back on at every engine start – like the other mandatory assistants.
For more on the technology and the legal basis, see the Swiss Federal Roads Office FEDRO (in German) and SRF News.
Not sure whether a particular model needs ADDW? Send us the model and year of manufacture via the contact form – we will check it for you.