Working Party on General Safety | Session 121 | 12-16 Apr 2021
Web conference
Agenda Item 11.
UN Regulation No. 125 (Forward field of Vision of Drivers)

79. The expert from the Netherlands, on behalf of the Task Force on Field of Vision Assistants (FVA), introduced a proposal for amendments to UN Regulation No. 125 (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSG/2021/12 as amended by GRSG-121-15), containing among others, new definitions on obstruction and on the FVA, prescriptions to be considered for obstruction evaluation, prescriptions to allowed obstructing FVA, information to be presented during the driving task, and transitional provisions for the 02 series of amendments.

80. GRSG adopted ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSG/2021/12, the proposal for the 02 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 125, as amended by GRSG-121-15 and in session (remove square brackets in paras. 12.1. to 12.4.) and requested the secretariat to submit it as an official document to WP.29 and AC.1 for consideration and vote at their November 2021 sessions.

81. The expert from the Netherlands introduced the draft Terms of Reference for the Informal Working Group on Field of Vision Assistants (IWG-FVA) (GRSG-121-24). He explained that the envisaged task of this Informal Working Group (IWG) were to further review the impact of Forward Field of Vision Assistants to the driver, to investigate the possibilities to objectify and update the provisions for the type-approval process, to develop a proposal for GRSG on a new Regulation and/or alternatively a further amendment of the existing UN Regulation No. 125, and to consider during its work existing standardisation, and existing or ongoing research activities on FVA Systems.

82. The expert from OICA proposed a modification to the draft ToR of the IWG on FVA, in including a new item 6 within the Operational Principles.

83. The expert from Germany stated that the formation of the new IWG on FVA was welcomed and inquired whether motorcycle helmets could be added as an additional topic to the work of the IWG (in the context of displays on visors).

84. The expert from the Netherlands supported the proposal from Germany and added that the participation of L category vehicle industry and motorcycle helmet industry representatives in the work of the IWG on FVA would be encouraged in this case.

85. The expert from OICA supported the positions of Germany and the Netherlands with respect to the participation of L category vehicle and motorcycle helmet industry representatives in the work of the IWG on FVA.

86. The expert from IMMA informed GRSG that it was premature for L category vehicle industry representatives to participate in the work of the IWG on FVA, and as such to reflect it in the draft ToR. She stated that the possible applicability of FVA systems in L category vehicle may be evaluated at a later stage.

87. GRSG adopted GRSG-121-24/Rev.2 the Terms of Reference of the IWG on FVA, including the new item 6 of the Operational Principles, with the mandate of the group envisaged until April 2023 (Annex IV and Decision No. 14 in Annex V of the session report).

88. The expert from OICA update GRSG on the status of exchanges between Contracting Parties and OICA members on the extension of the scope of UN Regulation No. 125 and partitioning systems (GRSG-121-23). He recalled discussions that took place concerning this matter at the 118th and 119th sessions of GRSG. OICA recommend GRSG to postpone consideration on a proposal for amendments to expend the extension of scope of the Regulation until the "European Forum” (former Type Approval Authorities Meeting) released their conclusions on ISO 27956:2009 interpretations, and also asked EU Members States at GRSG whether there are national laws/incentives that require the driver/worker to be protected from a load.

89. The expert from the European Commission stated that a document would be tabled at the next session of GRSG with a proposal to extend the scope of UN Regulation No. 125 to N1 category vehicles.

90. GRSG decided to resume discussions on the proposal for amendments to UN Regulation No. 125 (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSG/2021/13), related to extending the scope of the Regulation to include additional categories of vehicles, at its October 2021 session, and invited experts from EU Members States that participate in GRSG to contact OICA concerning the questions contained in document GRSG-121-23.

Documentation
GRSG-121-15 UN R125: Proposal for 02 series of amendments (Netherlands)
GRSG-121-23 UN R125: Update on the status of exchanges on extending the scope (OICA)
GRSG-121-24/Rev.2 Draft Terms of Reference for the Informal Working Group on Field of Vision Assistants (IWG-FVA) (Netherlands)
GRSG/2021/12 UN R125: Proposal for the 02 series of amendments
GRSG/2021/13 UN R125: Proposal for Supplement 2 to the 01 series of amendments (OICA)