UN R48: Proposal for a new series of amendments
Document GRE-82-25
18 October 2019

Proposal concerning the conditions under which the vehicles may circulate with the dipped beam headlamps switched OFF from the SLR informal group to based on document ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2019/03 taking into account the agreed modifications to the diagram introduced with GRE-81-21 (see ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/81, Annex II).

Status: Superseded
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Previous Documents, Discussions, and Outcomes
4. (a) | Activities of the Informal Working Group "Simplification of the Lighting and Light-Signalling Regulations"
4. (e) | Simplification of UN Regulations Nos. 48, 53, 74 and 86

14. The expert from IWG SLR tabled a revised proposal for a new series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 48 that introduces new requirements for headlamp levelling and allows manual levelling only for off-road vehicles (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2020/8/Rev.2). The expert from Poland suggested amendments for the initial downward inclination (GRE-84-37). The experts from France and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland made further comments.

15. GRE noted diverging positions on the proposed aiming diagram and manual levelling for off-road vehicles. GRE remained optimistic that a consensus could be reached and requested IWG SLR to convene 1-2 additional separate meetings with the aim to reconcile the different positions and to prepare a revised proposal for the next session.

6. | UN Regulation No. 48 (Installation of lighting and light-signalling devices)
6. (a) | UN R48: Proposals for amendments to the latest series of amendments
4. (c) | UN Regulation No. 149 (Road illumination devices)
4. (e) | Simplification of UN Regulations Nos. 48, 53, 74 and 86
6. (a) | UN R48: Proposals for amendments to the 05 and 06 series of amendments
6. (b) | UN R48: Proposals for new series of amendments

29. Based on a proposal of IWG SLR, GRE continued its deliberations for preparing a new series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 48 with new requirements for headlamp aiming and automatic levelling (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2020/8/Rev.1). The expert from Poland held the view that the justification part contained mistakes and inconsistencies and recalled his earlier proposals on the subject (GRE-83-41). Several experts expressed their support to the IWG SLR proposal.

30. The expert from OICA proposed to keep an option of manual levelling (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2020/23 and GRE-83-31). Some experts supported this option, while others were not in favour.

31. In the absence of a consensus, GRE stressed the need to finalize the issue as soon as possible and requested IWG SLR to take into account the comments made and to prepare a revised working document for the next session, based on the following principles:

  • the aiming diagram agreed at the eighty-first session of GRE (Annex II to ECE/TRANS/ WP.29/GRE/81);
  • automatic levelling;
  • manual levelling, only if a consensus is reached within IWG SLR.

32. The expert from Poland did not agree to that conclusion.

33. GRE instructed IWG SLR to organize a separate meeting on this issue and encouraged all experts of Contracting Parties to participate.

6. (b) | Proposals for new series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 48

28. The expert from the Special Interest Group (SIG) introduced a new draft series of amendments that defines the switching conditions of dipped-beam and Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) and the variable intensity of rear lamps in conjunction with traffic conditions (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2019/20 and GRE-82-07). The experts from Japan and EC proposed to reduce the speed threshold in paragraph 6.2.7.5.1. from 25 to 15 km/h (GRE-82-21). GRE supported this modification.

29. The expert of OICA proposed a new version of paragraph 6.19.7.4. (GRE-82-35-Rev.1) on switching of the rear position lamps together with DRLs. Some experts were of the view that the rear position lamps “shall be on” (i.e. always on) when DRLs are on, while others expressed preference to “may be on”, for the sake of reducing the energy consumption. Having extensively discussed this issue, GRE agreed that the rear position lamps “shall” be on in case of adverse weather conditions, however, the list of such conditions would need to be improved. GRE also noted that the transitional provisions in ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2019/20 had to be clarified. GRE invited SIG to consider the comments received and to submit a revised document to the next session.

31. The expert from IWG SLR recalled the previous discussions on the aiming diagram in paragraph 6.2.6.1.2. (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/81, para. 10 and Annex II) and presented GRE-82-25, which had been prepared in line with the GRE request. The expert from Poland proposed a revised diagram (GRE-82-43). For the diagram in GRE-82-25, the experts from Japan, Poland and the United Kingdom expressed their preference to maintain the 2000 lm criteria for automatic levelling and headlamp cleaning. The experts from Germany and the United Kingdom pointed out the need to consider the aiming tolerance for the purposes of, respectively, Periodic Technical Inspections (PTI) and Conformity of Production (CoP). GRE requested IWG SLR to consider the above elements and to prepare a revised document for the next session of GRE.

4. | Simplification of lighting and light-signalling UN Regulations

10. The expert from IWG SLR presented a proposal for a new 07 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 48 (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2019/3). The expert from Poland commented on the proposal (GRE-81-13 and GRE-81-16). GRE focused its discussion on the aiming diagram in paragraph 6.2.6.1.2. Following an in-depth consideration, GRE agreed on a modified diagram (GRE-81-21 and Annex II) and requested IWG SLR to prepare, on the basis of the new diagram, a revised proposal for consideration at the next session. The experts from Germany and Poland made study reservations. The expert from Germany also pointed out that, at the next session, he would present the outcome of a research project on the issue.

Related and Previous Documents
GRE/2019/3
GRE-82-21
GRE-82-43
SLR-35-16
GRE/2020/8/Rev.1
GRE/2020/8/Rev.2
Relates to UN R48 |