Description of an accident wherein a blind person was killed by a truck backing up with its reverse-mode sound signal deactivated and of possible policy responses in Japan.
Japan presents document Fatal Accident Involving a Blind Person in Japan in October 2015, which was already presented to WP29. It describes an accident with a commercial vehicle (N2, ICE) with deactivated reversing alarm involved. The background noise situation at the time when the accident happened is not clear.
As a consequence of this accident, Japan will carry out safety studies for reversing vehicles to prove if AVAS shall be mandatory and if pause switch for reversing alarm and for AVAS shall be prohibited. Also a reversing camera will be evaluated. Upon analysis of the study result, Japan will make proposals to WP29. As an initial conclusion Japan states that acoustic measures as emitted from AVAS may not be sufficient as this is a monologue only that warns the VRU but does not giving any information to the driver. However, further studies shall not postpone the introduction of QRTV Regulation in Japan. OICA pointed out that this accident shows that more studies are necessary to come to a better understanding. The reasons for switching of an AVAS can be driver annoyance as EVs are usually less insulated due to weight reduction. The Chairman pointed out that one of the backgrounds of the IWG QRTV is to determine which kind of studies and work is necessary.