38. The expert from the United States of America, Co-Chair of the IWG on FRAV, introduced GRVA-14-15. He explained (a) that the IWG did not recommend mandatory requirements for additional light-signalling devices under WP.29 beyond those requirements established for manually driven vehicles, (b) that the IWG believed existing light-signalling devices may be suitable (if permitted) to signal initiation of an automated fallback response designed to place the ADS vehicle in a minimal risk condition, (c) that the IWG recommended the establishment of uniform provisions for a light signal to communicate the operational status of the ADS, if fitted on an ADS vehicle and under certain conditions to serve the purpose of countries that may wish to mandate such light-signal, (d) that the IWG noted that means other than light-signalling may be suitable to achieve safety needs, and (e) that the IWG recommended continued monitoring of research into ADS signalling and the safety of interactions between other road users and ADS vehicle.

39. GRVA reviewed the document in detail, which received comments from the experts from Canada, France, Japan, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the United States of America as well as from AAPC, ITU, OICA and SAE International. The secretariat produced revised versions of the document reflecting the input received during the session. GRVA noted OICA’s concern with the approach of leaving the choice to mandate, allow or forbid such light signal for ADS to Countries or States (in the case of federal countries). GRVA adopted GRVA-14-15/Rev.3 (GRVA recommendations on ADS external light-signalling) and requested the secretariat to submit it to AC.2 and WP.29 for consideration at their November 2022 sessions.

40. The Secretary presented GRVA-14-44, providing information on the involvement of the GRVA Chair and Secretary at the session of WP.1, that took place during the week before the fourteenth session of GRVA. He explained that WP.1 was informed of the content in GRVA-14-15 on light-signalling for ADS, that WP.1 discussed signalling for ADS vehicles (also on the basis of an informal document that was submitted by the expert from the Netherlands), that the WP.1 Chair recalled the invitation to GRVA for a public joint event, possibly during ITC and that the contracting parties present at WP.1 expressed the interest to have an exchange (workshop) involving the GRVA IWG on FRAV and the WP.1 IGEAD. He drew the attention of GRVA to WP.1 documents (on Human Factors, on draft WP.1 resolution on activities other than driving), also posted on the GRVA webpage for convenience.

41. The expert from Canada welcomed the interaction with WP.1; he suggested that discussions on activities of common interest should also be conducted at WP.29 level, he mentioned his involvement in a WP.1 activity on human factor under agenda item 3 (d) (1), by chairing a panel discussion on human factor. He did not favour a public joint event with WP.1. He suggested to resume the work on taxonomy, definitions and lexicon (initiated a few years before COVID-19).

42. The expert from OICA described the two kinds of events discussed by WP.1. He mentioned on the one side the invitation of WP.1 Chair to GRVA for a communication exercise and on the other side the WP.1 decision for a workshop co-organized by IWG on FRAV and IGEAD, serving the purpose of sharing information, avoiding double work or repetitions, identifying items of common interest and avoiding slowing down the work. He confirmed the information provided by the secretariat in GRVA 14-44 and stated the industry’s need for harmonized traffic rules to avoid the fragmentation of rules, that would have to be added in ADS algorithms.

43. The expert from Canada recalled the nature of IGEAD, an informal group of interested parties. He stated that any discussion would need to be brought back to WP.1 and that such repetition would be beneficial.

44. GRVA noted that the collaboration should not impact the respective internal processes. GRVA invited the Chair to report to AC.2 and WP.29 on informal exchanges between the GRVA IWG on FRAV and the WP.1 IGEAD.

45. The expert from OICA presented GRVA-14-31, recalling the suggestion of the automotive industry to target end of 2025 for the development of an internationally harmonized certification scheme for Automated Driving Systems. He presented recommendations regarding the development of vehicle categories regarding ADS. He also provided ideas of relevance in the context of the screening and review of the UN Global Technical Regulations (UN GTRs) and UN Regulations under the purview of GRVA regarding their fitness for ADS.

46. The expert from the Netherlands, Co-Chair of the IWG on VMAD, noted the interest of the industry for an internationally harmonized certification scheme for ADS. He stated that the IWG on VMAD was not likely to be ready to cover all use cases and vehicle categories by the end of 2025 and that there was no commitment at this stage to meet that date.

47. The expert from Canada, Co-Chair of the IWG on VMAD, recalled the recent extension of the IWG on VMAD. He agreed with his colleague from the Netherlands. He stated that the work was ongoing, and that the industry should adapt its timeline too. He suggested that WP.29 be consulted about the proposal to address the vehicle categories for ADS. He advised that the screening of the UN GTRs and UN Regulations should not be euro- centric. He warned that any acceleration request or disruption could affect the progress of the IWG on VMAD. He suggested that the industry should join the IWG on VMAD meetings to present the state-of-the-art technology, the obstacles, how the industry deals with safety before performing trials or before hitting the market.

48. The Secretary recalled GRVA that the Working Party on General Safety provisions (GRSG) was in charge of the resolutions that include definitions for the vehicle categories and suggested to liaise with that working party.

49. The expert from ITU considered that GRVA did not have the time to address every topic. He suggested to concentrate on conventional vehicles that include an ADS.

50. The expert from SAE International mentioned that vehicle categories might even have an impact on Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN).

51. GRVA requested the Chair to consult AC.2 and WP.29 at their November 2022 sessions on the way to address the question of vehicle categories for automated vehicles.

52. The expert from the European Commission’s Joint Research Center, Chair of the IWG on VMAD subgroup three, explained that the European Union (EU) recently adopted a EU Regulation that covered among others the (small series) approval of driverless shuttles, a first and very good example of the principles application of the New Assessment Test Method applying the Multi Pillar Approach of GRVA. She volunteered to present this regulation at the next IWGs on FRAV and VMAD meetings.

53. The expert from OICA stated, in response to the Co-Chairs of IWG on VMAD, the importance to recognize the need for prompt action. He acknowledged the role of GRSG on vehicle categories, noted the specificities of ADS and called on GRVA to provide assistance to GRSG. He thanked the expert from EU to highlight the work done at the EU level and acknowledged that many aspects of this work were closely linked to the IWGs on FRAV/VMAD activities; therefore discussion and exchange would be interesting. He confirmed that the work done on the screening of UN Regulations and UN GTRs was not Eurocentric.

54. The expert from France introduced GRVA-14-36, informing GRVA on the work done by the Task Force (TF) on the fitness of GRVA UN Regulations and UN GTRs for ADS. He thanked the expert from China for the collaboration on this topic. The expert from the Netherlands presented GRVA-14-41, reporting on the GRSG activities on this topic and asking for guidance to GRVA. The expert from Germany informed on the GRSP activities on this topic.

55. GRVA discussed GRVA-14-54, prepared by the Secretary on the basis of input received, and proposing guidance to the GRs dealing with the screening of UN Regulations and UN GTRs. The proposal received comments from the experts from China, France (GRVA-14-53), Germany, Japan, the Netherlands and the Russian Federation as well as from OICA (GRVA-14-56). GRVA confirmed that ALKS was not in the scope of this screening. GRVA endorsed GRVA-14-54/Rev.1 with guidance for the experts from all GRs, involved in these activities. GRVA requested the Chair to inform AC.2 about this coordination between the GRs.

56. GRVA discussed the deliverables of the IWGs on FRAV and VMAD. GRVA adopted GRVA-14-51/Rev.2 (Proposal for amendments to ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2021/151 (Framework document)) and requested the secretariat to submit it to AC.2 and WP.29 for information at their November 2022 sessions.