The EU’s Vision Zero initiative, which aims to eliminate road fatalities and serious injuries by 2050, has intensified focus on road safety across the continent. While improved infrastructure and driver training remain critical, attention has increasingly shifted to standardising vehicle safety technology through the EU General Safety Regulation (GSR). This comprehensive framework mandates advanced safety systems in all new vehicles, aiming to reduce human error—which contributes to up to 90% of road accidents—and enhance protection for both occupants and Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs) such as pedestrians and cyclists.
Phased implementation of the GSR began in July 2022 for new vehicle types with basic advanced systems, progressing to all new registrations in July 2024. Trucks and buses must now feature a full suite of eight mandatory Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), including blind spot detection, advanced emergency braking (AEB), lane-keeping assistance, intelligent speed assistance, and driver fatigue monitoring.
Europe’s road freight sector, dominated by heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), is particularly affected. Eurostat data for 2024 shows over 4 million goods vehicles registered in the EU, with vehicles over 30 tonnes completing 83.1% of total freight in tonne-kilometres. HGVs under two years old accounted for 20.2% of road freight, reflecting rapid fleet renewal. Leading manufacturers, including Volvo, Scania, Mercedes-Benz, DAF, and MAN, have embraced the regulations, integrating previously optional ADAS technologies into new vehicles.
The impact is tangible. Scania reports that its trucks already included most required safety systems, while DAF and Volvo confirmed compliance and highlighted continued advancements in active safety technologies. Anna Wrige Berling, Traffic and Product Safety Director at Volvo Trucks, explains, “Trucks will become more intelligent and proactive when it comes to safety, with more features that intervene rather than just inform, while the driver remains the most important safety system in the truck.”
For Girteka, Europe’s largest asset-based logistics company, the GSR’s benefits are already visible. Since July 2024, the company has deployed over 2,400 GSR-compliant trucks, with plans for up to 8,000 more by 2026. Internal data indicates a 10% reduction in accidents within a year, particularly in low-speed manoeuvres, minor collisions, and blind spot incidents—precisely the scenarios the new ADAS technologies target.
Dainius Augutis, Transport Function & Support Department Manager at Girteka, says, “The EU’s GSR is a powerful market signal that transforms safety technology from a premium add-on to a universal standard. Collaboration between fleet owners, who provide operational data and demand, and manufacturers, who provide the engineering, is what makes Vision Zero achievable.”
Beyond the numbers, the human impact is significant. Drivers operate in safer, lower-stress conditions, communities experience reduced risk, and clients benefit from fewer disruptions. Girteka’s results demonstrate that regulatory foresight, advanced technology adoption, and comprehensive driver training can accelerate road safety innovation. The company’s experience provides a blueprint for the future of safer, smarter logistics across Europe, showing that operational excellence and safety excellence go hand in hand.
