World Forum for the Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations | Session 186 | 7-11 Mar 2022
Geneva
Agenda Item 2.1.
Report of the session of the Administrative Committee for the Coordination of Work (WP.29/AC.2)

9. The 138th session of WP.29/AC.2 (7 March 2022) was chaired by Mr. A. Erario (Italy), Chair of the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29), and was attended**, in accordance to Rule 29 of the terms of reference and rules of procedure of WP.29 (TRANS/WP.29/690/Rev.2) by the Chairs of GRBP (France), GRE (Finland), GRPE (Netherlands), GRSG (Italy), GRSP (United States of America), GRVA (Germany), GRE (Netherlands), GRPE (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland), GRSG (represented by Canada delegate), GRSP (Republic of Korea), GRVA (China and Japan), the Chair and Vice-Chairs of the Executive Committee (AC.3) of the 1998 Agreement (United States of America, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Japan), the Chair of the 1997 Agreement Administrative Committee (AC.4) (Russian Federation), the Vice-Chair of the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) (Russian Federation) and by the representatives of the European Union.

10. Prior to its scheduled meeting on 7 March 2022, AC.2 held an ad-hoc virtual informal meetings on 2 and 18 February related to the special procedures during COVID-19 period in order to enable business continuity for WP.29 and its subsidiary bodies.

11. AC.2 resumed consideration related to potential breach of copyrights and/or intellectual property rights based on a document prepared by the secretariat. AC.2 received also a presentation by the European Commission on a potential intellectual property rights policy suitable for WP.29 and its subsidiary bodies. Both documents are still under scrutiny by AC.2 members and are intended to be consulted with WP.29 members at its June 2022 session.

12. AC.2 reviewed the draft programme of work for 2022, which was based on the input provided by the GRs and introduced final amendments (see WP.29-186-14) and recommended it to WP.29 for adoption. AC.2 welcomed the updated list of priorities for 2023 that could form the basis for the next programme of work.

13. AC2 discussed the coordination of work on Automated Driving Systems (ADS). AC.2, for the sake of global harmonization, decided tasking:

  1. First, GRVA and Informal Working Group (IWG) on Functional Requirements for Automated Vehicles (FRAV) were tasked to determine the conditions, if any, under which an ADS external lighting signal should be activated and recommendations to GRE on technicalities of such devices; GRVA and FRAV were to report to AC.2 in November 2022 ;
  2. Following AC.2 consideration and recommendation in November 2022, GRE and Task Force on Autonomous Vehicle Signalling Requirements (AVSR) or an IWG to harmonize performance requirements for an Automated Driving Systems (ADS) light signal accordingly. GRE will specify the requirements for ADS light signal and their installation if needed, in cooperation with GRVA and the IWG on FRAV by November 2023;
  3. GRE and GRVA (and their respective IWG) to align the proposal on ADS light signal, if any. March 2024;
  4. GRVA will inform the Global Forum for Road Traffic Safety, WP.1, and its Group of Experts, GE.3, of the activities on ADS light signal.

14. AC.2 reviewed the consolidated agenda for the 186th Session (WP.29-186-04), noting the withdrawal of items 4.6.2 and 4.6.9 as requested by GRBP, and the draft agenda for the 187th session, June 2022.

15. AC.2 approved participation by the Clean Air Association to WP.29 and subsidiary bodies under Rule 1(d) for the next two years.

16. AC.2 recommended AC.4 not to convene.

Documentation
WP.29-186-04 WP.29-186: Updated consolidated agenda for the March 2022 session
WP.29-186-14 Proposal for amendments to the WP.29 programme of work