5. The expert from Belgium introduced ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSG/2019/9 and GRSG-116-44, proposing to amend the requirements in Annex 11 of UN Regulation No. 107 on the minimum mass for the front axle of articulated vehicles of Class I. The expert from the United Kingdom raised study reservations on braking performance and braking stability. GRSG noted that UN Regulation No. 13 would be applied in any case and supported the proposal in principle. The expert from Belgium volunteered to provide more detailed information on braking performances for the next GRSG session. GRSG decided to adopt ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSG/2019/9 and requested the secretariat to submit it to WP.29 and the administrative Committee AC.1 of the 1958 Agreement as draft Supplement 8 to the 06 series of amendments, draft Supplement 3 to the 07 series of amendments and draft Supplement 2 to the 08 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 107 for consideration at their November 2019 sessions, subject to a final review by GRSG at its October 2019 session.

6. The expert from Italy presented ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSG/2019/13 to amend Annex 3 of the Regulation on the test requirements of emergency door exits of all buses and coaches, and to clarify that the minimum number of emergency exits was four. The expert from Poland recalled that the current minimum number of emergency exits had been increased to five as a result of the amendments proposed by the former informal working group on Service Doors, Windows and Emergency Exits (SDWEE). After the discussion, GRSG preferred the status quo.

7. The expert from Norway recalled GRSG-115-04, from the previous session of GRSG, on the need to enhance the protection and integrity of the driver or crew member compartment of buses and coaches in a frontal collision. He stated that he had not received replies to his request for statistical or accidentology data on such collisions that resulted in risks for the driver and/or crew members.

8. The expert from OICA presented GRSG-116-25 on specific concerns for the position of escape hatches on M2 buses of Class B in the transition from the 05 and 06 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 107. She added that the location of such hatches was not relevant, particularly for short vehicles with a passenger compartment length of approximately 2.5 m. Thus, she proposed to amend the provisions of Annex 3 on the number and position of emergency exits of vehicles of Classes A and B (GRSG-116-24). GRSG noted general support for the proposal and some requests for clarification. The expert from OICA invited all interested experts to provide her with their comments. Thus, she volunteered to submit a revised proposal for consideration at the next session as an official document.

9. As a follow-up to the discussions of the Global Forum for Road Traffic Safety (WP.1) and the World Forum WP.29 on automated vehicles, GRSG agreed to prioritize the consideration of specifications for autonomous shuttles. The Chair questioned the need to review the applicability of existing requirements or the categorization of these vehicles. The expert from France offered to share at the next GRSG session, details on the status of French legislation on this subject.