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Most car restraint systems still treat every passenger the same. Whether you’re a child in a rear-facing seat or a tall adult with your feet on the dash, the airbag and seatbelt are likely to respond the same way.
That’s exactly what Euro NCAP wants to change in 2026.
The new protocol adds stricter requirements for airbag deactivation, seatbelt adaptation, and out-of-position detection – all of which rely on real-time occupant monitoring. To earn top safety scores, automakers will need systems that do more than buckle up and deploy on impact.
What’s required isn’t just detection, but judgment – systems that can respond to occupant conditions in real time and adjust safety features accordingly.
This blog outlines the key requirements for occupant monitoring in Euro NCAP’s 2026 assessment protocol – and what automakers and suppliers need to integrate to meet them.
Not every passenger needs the same kind of protection. A shorter adult in the front seat won’t experience a crash the same way as someone much taller, and a one-size-fits-all airbag strategy can actually cause harm in certain scenarios.
That’s why Euro NCAP’s 2026 protocol calls for smarter, adaptive restraint systems. Vehicles must now classify the size of both the driver and front passenger and adjust their restraint strategies accordingly. These adjustments are tested through frontal impact simulations as part of the safety assessment.
To qualify, the system has to recognize different occupant statures in real time and respond within ten seconds of any change in seating. And OEMs must justify how their systems adapt to at least two distinct size categories. A single, universal setting won’t suffice.
Key Requirements in the 2026 Protocol
Occupant stature classification required for both driver and front passenger.
Systems must define and justify restraint strategies for at least two of three size categories: 5th, 50th, and 95th percentile occupants.
Restraint systems (e.g., airbags, pretensioners) must adapt accordingly, within 10 seconds of occupancy change.
Adaptation strategies will be tested in frontal impact simulations.
To score well in 2026, airbag systems need to do more than rely on manual switches.
Vehicles must now manage passenger airbag status automatically – or, at minimum, prompt the driver when action is needed. Systems that depend on the driver spotting a label and flipping a switch won’t earn full points, even if they function correctly. The risk of human error is too high.
This change is especially important when it comes to protecting infants in rear-facing child seats. In these cases, the system must ensure the airbag is off – while still turning it on for smaller adults, either automatically or by prompting the driver.
Euro NCAP also sets strict rules for how these systems are presented to users. From physical labels to infotainment prompts, every element must be clearly worded, visible during child seat installation, and positioned so a child can’t accidentally change the setting.
Key Requirements in the 2026 Protocol
Airbag status must be automatically managed (preferred) or system-advised, based on who’s in the seat.
Manual-only switches are not enough to earn top scores.
Airbags must be OFF for rear-facing child seats and ON for 5th percentile adults and larger.
Any manual or system-advised switch must:
• Use clear labeling (“Passenger AIRBAG ON/OFF” – no abbreviations)
• Be visible and accessible during child seat installation
• Be placed where it cannot be operated by a rear-facing child
Even the best-designed airbag can’t protect someone who isn’t sitting properly. That’s why Euro NCAP’s 2026 update introduces stricter requirements for detecting when passengers are out of position – like leaning too far forward or putting their feet on the dash.
The system needs to monitor posture continuously, not just at the start of a trip, and issue clear visual and audible warnings when something’s off.
The goal is to prevent injuries from improper seating positions by catching them early and giving the passenger time to correct them before it’s too late.
Key Requirements in the 2026 Protocol
Must detect feet on the dashboard (inboard, centerline, outboard) and upper body leaning too close to the dashboard (within 20 cm of the facia)
Detection must work across different body types and postures
Monitoring must be continuous throughout the trip
Alerts must:
• Begin within 30 seconds of detecting a dangerous posture
• Be both visual and audible
• Repeat every 15 minutes if unacknowledged
Meeting Euro NCAP’s 2026 standards will take more than small software updates or sensor tweaks. Automakers will need to integrate adaptive, occupant-aware restraint systems that respond dynamically to who’s in the car, how they’re seated, and what kind of protection they need. That means coordinating across systems: from occupant sensing to restraint logic to user interfaces.
To make that possible, many vehicles will need more advanced sensing capabilities than what’s common today. 3D depth-sensing cameras, for example, are key to estimating the occupant’s size and distance from the dashboard – data that determines whether an airbag should deploy and how forcefully. Paired with weight sensors or seat pressure mats, these systems can build a much clearer picture of who’s in the car and how they’re positioned.
Camera-based monitoring also enables real-time posture tracking, helping the vehicle detect if someone’s moved too close to the airbag or is sitting in a risky position. But the real engine behind all this is software: sensor fusion algorithms that take in data from multiple sources and enable fast, reliable decisions about restraint strategy.
For suppliers, the challenge is clear: deliver components that are accurate, integration-ready, and adaptable to different OEM strategies. For car manufacturers, it means investing in systems that can handle the edge cases, meet the strict timing requirements, and stand up to the scrutiny of Euro NCAP’s new testing protocols.
To learn more about Euro NCAP’s 2026 updates, find the full assessment protocols on Euro NCAP’s website.
