33. The secretariat presented the list of main decisions adopted at the eightieth session of ITC (20–23 February 2018). Decisions Nos. 12, 13 and 19 were emphasized as of particular importance to the work of WP.29.

34. In decision No. 12, ITC requested WP.1 and WP.29, working in close cooperation, to continue developing, according to their mandates, recommendations and/or legal provisions on automated driving to enable a future safe coexistence of automated and traditionally operated vehicles on roads, and their interaction with other road users and infrastructure.

35. ITC, in decision No. 13, reiterated the decision of the seventy-seventh session to invite “WP.1 and WP.29 to investigate different possibilities to increase their cooperation” and welcomed the Global Forum for Road Traffic Safety and Working Party on Brakes and Running Gear joint session (September 2017), to exchange information on the topics of “secondary activities” and cyber security. ITC agreed that these joint sessions contributed to a better understanding of the role of the driver in highly and fully automated vehicles and requested both Working Parties to explore further possibilities for holding additional joint sessions in the future.

36. In its decision No. 19, ITC expressed its support for the most recent developments in the work carried out by the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) and noting the importance of WP.29 activities related to automated/autonomous vehicles, requested WP.29 to consider establishing of a dedicated subsidiary Working Party (“GR”). ITC further reiterated its support for the establishment of the type-approval database DETA because of its positive effect on road safety and expressed its thanks to the Government of Germany for the offer to temporarily host DETA as an in-kind contribution, providing ECE with the necessary time to secure its financing.

37. ITC re-elected the Chair of the World Forum, Mr. A. Erario, as a member of the Bureau of ITC.

124. The representative of Finland, Ambassador of the WP.29 and WP.1 on Automated Driving, reported on the activities of WP.1 including automated vehicles. He informed WP.29 about relevant proceedings of the December 2017 session of WP.1 where discussions took place on “secondary activities” by the driver, operation of a vehicle by a driver outside the vehicle and a draft WP.1 resolution on fully automated vehicles of SAE levels 4 and 5.

125. The secretariat informed WP.29 about the possibility to address a request of ITC (see para. 13 of “Informal Document ITC (2018) No. 13”) by planning a future combined meeting of WP.1 and WP.29 experts on automated driving, to be scheduled before the 2018 summer break, and the establishment of a joint (WP.1 and WP.29) programme committee supporting its planning.

126. The secretariat invited delegates to a special session of SC.1 from 4 to 6 April 2018 where the topic of digital / smart road infrastructure would be discussed on 5 April.