Working Document GRE/2016/20

Proposal to amend the draft text concerning sequential activation of direction indicators. The amendments aim to ensure reasonable uniformity across direction indicators in order to reduce the risk of misinterpretation by other road users. The modifications proposed by the France replace the terms “apparent surface” and “continuous” with specific objective criteria.

22. On behalf of the Task Force on Sequential Activation (TF-SA), the expert from Finland reported on its activities and proposed to clarify the requirements for direction indicators with sequential activation in Regulations Nos. 6 and 50 (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2016/20 and GRE-76-10). The proposals received written comments from the experts of France, India and OICA (GRE-76-05, GRE-76-09 and GRE-76-16). Following an extensive discussion, GRE adopted the amended proposals, as laid down in Annex IV. At the same time, GRE was not in a position to reach consensus on whether or not the proposals would require a new series of amendments and/or transitional provisions. GRE decided to come back to this issue at the next session in April 2017. Meanwhile, the secretariat was requested to issue the adopted text (Annex IV) as a document for the June 2017 session of WP.29, upon the understanding that any possible amendments, to be decided by GRE in April 2017, could exceptionally be submitted to WP.29 as a corrigendum or addendum to this document.

The justification for changes to sub-paragraphs 5.6.(e) of Regulation No. 6 and 6.8.(e) of Regulation No. 50 is missing from document GRE/2016/20. The Task Force on Sequential Activation of direction indicators wishes to note that the paragraphs were proposed by GTB and accepted by the Task Force to clarify the text without changing the current technical requirements.

22. On behalf of the Task Force on Sequential Activation (TF-SA), the expert from Finland reported on its activities and proposed to clarify the requirements for direction indicators with sequential activation in Regulations Nos. 6 and 50 (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2016/20 and GRE-76-10). The proposals received written comments from the experts of France, India and OICA (GRE-76-05, GRE-76-09 and GRE-76-16). Following an extensive discussion, GRE adopted the amended proposals, as laid down in Annex IV. At the same time, GRE was not in a position to reach consensus on whether or not the proposals would require a new series of amendments and/or transitional provisions. GRE decided to come back to this issue at the next session in April 2017. Meanwhile, the secretariat was requested to issue the adopted text (Annex IV) as a document for the June 2017 session of WP.29, upon the understanding that any possible amendments, to be decided by GRE in April 2017, could exceptionally be submitted to WP.29 as a corrigendum or addendum to this document.

22. On behalf of the Task Force on Sequential Activation (TF-SA), the expert from Finland reported on its activities and proposed to clarify the requirements for direction indicators with sequential activation in Regulations Nos. 6 and 50 (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2016/20 and GRE-76-10). The proposals received written comments from the experts of France, India and OICA (GRE-76-05, GRE-76-09 and GRE-76-16). Following an extensive discussion, GRE adopted the amended proposals, as laid down in Annex IV. At the same time, GRE was not in a position to reach consensus on whether or not the proposals would require a new series of amendments and/or transitional provisions. GRE decided to come back to this issue at the next session in April 2017. Meanwhile, the secretariat was requested to issue the adopted text (Annex IV) as a document for the June 2017 session of WP.29, upon the understanding that any possible amendments, to be decided by GRE in April 2017, could exceptionally be submitted to WP.29 as a corrigendum or addendum to this document.

Proposal to clarify and amend the supplement concerning sequential direction indicators adopted by GRE during its 76th session based upon document GRE/2016/20 and finalized in Annex IV of the session report. The proposal would clarify and move the prohibition against the mixing of signals of two or more activation modes to UN R48 and introduces transitional provisions.

22. GRE recalled its previous considerations of the amendment proposals to Regulations Nos. 6 and 50 concerning direction indicators with sequential activation (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/76, para. 22 and Annex IV) and resumed the discussion on whether or not these proposals would require a new series of amendments and/or transitional provisions. The expert from OICA pointed out that the proposed amendments included also installation requirements which should be moved to Regulation No. 48. To this end, he introduced draft amendments to Regulation No. 48 as well as revised proposals for amendments to Regulations Nos. 6 and 50, including a new series of amendments and transitional provisions for Regulation No. 6 (GRE-76-26-Rev.1). Following an extensive discussion, GRE was of the view that a new series of amendments was not necessary, as the proposed amendments were of clarification nature and did not introduce new requirements. At the same time, GRE agreed that the industry would need a transition period to take into account, in the design process, the amended provisions and decided to introduce them by means of a Supplement with transitional provisions. GRE adopted the proposals for amendments to Regulations Nos. 6, 48 (05 and 06 series of amendments) and 50, as contained in Annex III, and requested the secretariat to submit them to WP.29 and AC.1 for consideration and vote at their June 2017 sessions.

Proposal to clarify the provisions for sequential activation of direction indicator lighting, especially concerning the interpretation of the phrase “one continuous line”. The proposal, developed by a special task force, clarifies the type definition and reduces the need for dividing sequential direction indicators into different types. This proposal revises the text to be more technology-neutral, removing specifications on how light sources are activated to focus on the visual performance as sequential lighting. The amendment of sub-paragraph 5.6.(c) of UN R6 clarifies what kind of vertical movement is not allowed in the sequential direction indicators, proposing a new new term “vertical oscillations” instead of the current wording “repeating alternation in the vertical direction”. The meaning is that not more than one change of direction upwards or downwards along the vertical axis is possible. The “continuous signal” is also defined in sub-paragraph 5.6.© of Regulation No. 6. The allowed distance between adjacent or tangential distinct parts is limited 50mm (which differs in this case from UN R48 specifications). Transitional provisions have been included.

Proposal to clarify the provisions for sequential activation of direction indicator lighting, especially concerning the interpretation of the phrase “one continuous line”. The proposal, developed by a special task force, clarifies the type definition and reduces the need for dividing sequential direction indicators into different types. This proposal revises the text to be more technology-neutral, removing specifications on how light sources are activated to focus on the visual performance as sequential lighting. The amendment of sub-paragraph 5.6.(c) of UN R6 clarifies what kind of vertical movement is not allowed in the sequential direction indicators, proposing a new new term “vertical oscillations” instead of the current wording “repeating alternation in the vertical direction”. The meaning is that not more than one change of direction upwards or downwards along the vertical axis is possible. The “continuous signal” is also defined in sub-paragraph 5.6.(c) of Regulation No. 6. The allowed distance between adjacent or tangential distinct parts is limited 50mm (which differs in this case from UN R48 specifications). Transitional provisions have been included.