7. The expert from Germany, co-Chair of the IWG on pedestrian safety, reported on the progress of work of the IWG on UN GTR No. 9 – Phase 2 to incorporate the flexible pedestrian legform impactor (FlexPLI). The expert from the United States of America informed the group that the process of transposition of the UN GTR Phase 1 would start when the notice of proposed regulation making (NPRM) is expected to be completed by the end of 2015. He added that the cost/benefit analysis for the Phase 1 and 2 of the UN GTR is expected to be completed by summer 2015. He announced that once the analysis is finalized his delegation would be ready to define its position for the Phase 2. The expert from Germany reminded that the mandate of the IWG had been extended by the Executive Committee of the 1998 Agreement (AC.3) (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/1112, para. 117) until November 2015. He announced that a draft addendum to the M.R.1 would be submitted by the IWG to the May 2015 session of GRSP.

8. The expert from EC introduced ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2014/17 and ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2014/30, submitted by the Task Force on Bumper Test Area (TF-BTA), a subgroup of the Informal Working Group on global technical regulation No. 9 – Phase 2, and proposing an amendment to the provisions of the bumper test. He explained that the current provisions allow the area to be narrower than intended in the provisions of the UN GTR. He added that ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2014/17 was proposing a new method by introducing a practical determination of angle surfaces, to be tested with the FlexPLI, by using a corner gauge. Moreover, he explained that ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2014/30 was proposing the introduction of the definition of rigid bumper beam in the test area in addition to the above-mentioned new test method. He finally informed GRSP that a test report on research conducted by EC on this issue was available. The expert from Japan gave a presentation (GRSP-56-03) to support ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2014/17. The expert from Korea presented GRSP-56-20 supporting ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2014/30. The expert from OICA introduced GRSP-56-30, supporting the new method as proposed by ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2014/17, because the test is less sensitive to specific design features and it could be performed without disassembling parts. Moreover, GRSP discussed GRSP-56-38 and GRSP-56-39, superseding respectively ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2014/17 and ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2014/30.

9. GRSP endorsed GRSP-56-39, but did not support GRSP-56-38. The secretariat was requested to distribute GRSP-56-39 with an official symbol for consideration at its May 2015 session. It was agreed that this proposal would be discussed further by the Contracting Parties under the 1998 Agreement and by GRSP at its next session as a full package with: (i) an updated draft proposal of Phase 2 of the UN GTR (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2014/15) and (ii) an updated final report of the IWG (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2014/16).

10. Finally, the expert from the Republic of Korea introduced GRSP-56-21 for information only. He explained that pedestrian safety was a relevant road safety issue in his country, causing more than 2000 casualties each year and stated the availability of his delegation to prepare proposals concerning tests of active devices to further improve vehicle performances.