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A proposal approved this week by the Commission of Transportation and Traffic of the Chamber of Deputies provides for the suspension of the driver’s license and a very serious fine multiplied by five for drivers caught using smart glasses that impair attention or obstruct vision while driving. According to information released by the Revista Fórum, in case of recurrence within 12 months, the driver’s license may be revoked, and if the use of the device is linked to an accident, the situation will be considered an aggravating factor in administrative, civil, and criminal processes.
Who presented the original project was Deputy Carlos Zarattini (PT-SP), through PL 19/2026. When the proposal advanced: this week, with the approval of the amendment in the Commission of Transportation and Traffic of the Chamber. How the prohibition will work: the text prohibits the use of “wearable or portable devices that obstruct, totally or partially, the driver’s field of vision in relation to the road and its surroundings,” a broad definition that covers current smart glasses and future wearable technologies. Why Congress decided to act now: the advancement of glasses with artificial intelligence, capable of displaying images, recording videos, capturing sounds, and providing real-time responses to the user, began to concern lawmakers who consider these devices a new source of distraction at the wheel, potentially more dangerous than the cell phone.
The rapporteur of the proposal in the commission, Deputy Gilberto Abramo (Republicans-MG), modified the original text to create a technical criterion within the Brazilian Traffic Code that can keep up with technological evolution. The proposal still needs to pass through the Commission of Science, Technology and Innovation, the Commission of Constitution and Justice (CCJ), the plenary of the Chamber, and the Senate before becoming law. But the fact that it was approved in the first commission with a stricter wording than the original indicates that the topic has support among lawmakers.
Fine multiplied by five and immediate suspension of the driver’s license
The penalty provided in the project for those driving using smart glasses is one of the most severe in the Brazilian Traffic Code. The infraction would be classified as very serious, with a fine multiplied by five, which would raise the penalty amount to levels above R$ 1,400 per occurrence. In addition to the fine, the driver would have the immediate suspension of the right to drive, temporarily losing the driver’s license until fulfilling the administrative requirements for recovery.
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In case of recurrence within a 12-month period, the consequence is even more drastic: the driver’s license may be revoked. Revocation means that the driver permanently loses the license and will need to redo the entire licensing process, including medical exams, classes, and tests, after serving the penalty period. Compared to other traffic violations, the proposed punishment for using smart glasses while driving is more severe than that applied to cell phone use, reflecting the lawmakers’ assessment that wearable devices with artificial intelligence pose a higher risk.
What smart glasses are and why they are concerning
The so-called smart glasses combine the appearance of conventional glasses with advanced digital functionalities. The most modern models have built-in cameras, microphones, speakers, voice commands, connection with artificial intelligence, real-time translation, map navigation, and display of information directly on the lenses. Some devices already use platforms like Android XR, aimed at immersive experiences and constant interaction with AI.
The specific problem for traffic is that these glasses can overlay visual information onto the driver’s field of vision while driving. Unlike a cell phone, which the driver needs to hold and look down to use, smart glasses project content directly in front of the eyes, competing for visual attention with the road, pedestrians, and other vehicles. For the lawmakers who approved the proposal, this overlay represents a potentially fatal distraction that the current Traffic Code neither foresees nor adequately punishes.
What would be prohibited and what would remain allowed
The project does not completely prohibit the use of smart glasses while driving. If the proposal becomes law, the devices could operate in a restricted mode that allows only functions related to navigation, safety, and driver assistance. Information such as GPS directions, speed alerts, and vehicle maintenance warnings could continue to be displayed, as long as they do not obstruct the field of vision.
Expressly prohibited would be: videos and visual content in the field of vision, recording of images and sounds, AI-generated responses not directly related to driving, and cognitive stimuli that could distract the driver. In practice, this means that a driver could see a curve indication on their glasses, but could not watch a video, receive text messages projected on the lenses, or interact with an AI assistant on topics unrelated to the route.
Privacy and data collection are also included in the proposal
In addition to the traffic rules affecting the driver’s license, the project includes privacy provisions that impact manufacturers and companies responsible for smart glasses. The text mandates that these companies must clearly inform when data collection occurs, create privacy protection mechanisms from the product development phase, and conduct impact assessments on risks involving personal data. These requirements reinforce compliance with the General Data Protection Law (LGPD) in situations of recording, transmitting, or processing images and sounds.
This part of the project acknowledges that smart glasses are not only a risk to the driver but also to the people around. A device with an embedded camera can record passersby, passengers, and everyday situations without the filmed individuals’ knowledge or consent. For legislators concerned with surveillance and misuse of data, regulating these devices before they become ubiquitous is a way to anticipate problems that already affect other technologies like security cameras and drones.
The path the proposal still needs to take
Despite approval in the Transportation and Traffic Committee, the project is still far from becoming law. The text will proceed to the Science, Technology, and Innovation Committee for evaluation from the perspective of industry impact and technological innovation. Then, it will go through the Constitution and Justice Committee (CCJ), which will verify the proposal’s constitutionality. Only after these stages will the text reach the Chamber’s plenary and, if approved, the Federal Senate.
Each stage may result in modifications to the text, meaning that penalties and definitions may change before the law comes into effect. The technology sector will likely mobilize to influence the wording during the upcoming committees, arguing that excessive prohibitions may inhibit innovation and that augmented reality devices have the potential to improve traffic safety, not just compromise it. The debate between road safety and technological development will be the focus of discussions in the coming weeks.
Smart glasses, driver’s license, and a law that may arrive before the technology becomes popular
The proposal advancing in Congress may suspend the driver’s license of those driving with smart glasses, impose a severe fine multiplied by five, and revoke the license upon recurrence. The project was approved in a Chamber committee and still needs to pass through two more committees, the plenary, and the Senate, but it already signals that Congress treats wearable AI devices as a real threat to traffic. If it becomes law, Brazil will be among the first countries to specifically regulate the use of smart glasses in vehicle operation.
Do you think using smart glasses while driving should suspend the driver’s license? Tell us in the comments if you have used or intend to use this type of device, if you agree with the fine multiplied by five, and if you believe the legislation should differentiate useful functions like GPS from distracting functions. We want to hear your opinion.
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