EU Backs Child Alarms in Cars After Switch-Off
New cars and vans sold in the European Union would have to be fitted with systems that detect a child left inside after the vehicle is switched off or locked, under plans backed by MEPs this week.
Three European Parliament committees — covering the environment, the internal market and transport — adopted the draft rules on Wednesday by 105 votes in favour, 39 against and 21 abstentions. The measures form part of a wider package aimed at simplifying rules for carmakers and supporting the industry's shift to cleaner vehicles.
The child presence detection requirement would apply to passenger cars and vans weighing up to 3.5 tonnes. The system would have to keep working after the driver switches the vehicle off or locks it, so that a child accidentally left behind is not overlooked. The proposal was promoted by Spanish MEP Nicolás González Casares and is aimed in particular at preventing deaths of children forgotten inside vehicles during hot weather.
The committees also put forward new safety requirements for door handles. Doors of cars and vans would have to be designed so they can be opened mechanically from both inside and outside in an emergency, a move that could restrict electronically activated flush-fitting handles.
The package also creates a new category for small, efficient electric cars and pushes large companies towards cleaner fleets, with support for vehicles made in Europe. The European Commission estimates the simplification measures would save businesses, consumers and public bodies around €706 million a year.
The proposals are not yet law. The full Parliament is expected to vote on its negotiating mandate at its December plenary session, after which talks with EU governments in the Council will decide the final wording.
[Source: europarl.europa.eu](https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20261103IPR48611/automotive-sector-boost-electric-vehicles-simplify-measures) | [Source: euperspectives.eu](https://euperspectives.eu/2026/11/will-your-next-company-car-be-electric-and-eu-made-lawmakers-push-for-it/)
