Volvo will be able to watch you drive and pull over if you seem distracted

Eyes off the road? As soon as next year, Volvo’s cars will be able to pull over automatically — thanks to cameras that watch you as you drive.

Earlier this month, the Swedish company announced its future cars will have a . Now, the company says it’s introducing in-car cameras and sensors that monitor the driver for signs of distraction or intoxication — which include looking away from the road for too long, keeping your hands off the steering wheel, weaving through lanes, or reacting too slowly while driving. 

Depending on the severity of the distraction level, the car will first warn the driver, then call a Volvo support center, and then reduce the speed of the car. If the behavior continues, the car will pull over in a safe location and stop driving. A Volvo support call will alert any emergency responders or others as needed.

Volvo acknowledges some of these measures might seem extreme, but they could be what it takes to make driving safer. A distracted driver on a phone call, texting, or looking away is 29 times more likely to crash in a highway work zone, according to University of Missouri research released this month. But knowing that your car is watching you might be hard for drivers to accept, especially in this age of exploited privacy and personal data.

The safety feature will be available in all Volvo cars starting in 2020.

A less intrusive, and admittedly, useful tool coming in 2021 allows owners to set max speed limits for others using their vehicle. Called “Care Key,” the speed cap could reduce dangerous driving for younger and inexperienced drivers, like when your teenager takes the car for the day.