17. The experts from OICA and GTB proposed to introduce new criteria on the automatic levelling of headlamps based on the outcome of the GTB glare and visibility studies (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2015/5). The expert from Poland suggested further modifications to this proposal (GRE-73-28). The experts from Germany and Japan proposed to impose automatic levelling in all cases, in order to reduce glare problems for drivers (GRE-73-18). Following an in-depth exchange of views on these three documents, GRE realized that no consensus could be found as long as there was no single proposal.
18. To make progress on this issue and prepare a comprising proposal, GRE decided to establish an Informal Working Group with a draft title “on Visibility, Glare and Levelling” (IWG VGL), for which the experts from Germany and Poland agreed to act as Chair and Secretary, respectively. GRE requested IWG VGL to submit its terms of reference for consideration at the next session of GRE and mandated the Chair to obtain, in June 2015, the consent of WP.29 for the establishment of this IWG.
19. The expert from Poland proposed to introduce optional ‘side illuminating lamps’ into Regulations Nos. 48 and 119 (agenda item 7 (l)) (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2015/6, ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2015/19, GRE-73-12, GRE-73-13, GRE-73-27) with the aim to increase the visibility of pedestrians, animals, etc. for glared drivers. The expert from India suggested corrections to this proposal (GRE-73-19). GRE was of the view that this proposal would not bring additional benefits for road safety and was not in a position to support it.
20. The expert from France proposed to delete a design restrictive requirement in Regulation No. 48 for an auto-levelling device for low beam produced by any LED light sources, while for other light sources this requirement exists only if their reference luminous flux exceeds 2,000 Lm (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2015/21 and GRE-73-25). According to the expert, should LED be treated in the same way as other lights sources, this would lead to more LED headlamps fitted on new vehicles, thus improving road safety and reducing CO2 emissions. The experts from Belgium, Germany, Japan and UK were of the view that this issue should be first referred to IWG VGL and be considered in one package with other proposals regarding levelling (see paras. 17 and 18 above), upon the understanding that a final solution developed by IWG VGL should be technology neutral. The experts from Italy, Spain, EC, CLEPA and OICA not only supported the French proposal as removing discrimination between various technologies of light sources, but also called for its adoption without delay, irrespective of the IWG activities. GRE agreed that the Chair would submit this issue to the June 2015 session of WP.29 for guidance and to report back to GRE at its next session.