27. GRVA received a progress report from the expert from United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Co-Chair of the Special Interest Group on UN Regulation No. 157 (GRVA-12-36) on the activities of the group. He introduced ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRVA/2022/3 and ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRVA/2022/4, aimed at proposing provisions addressing lane change manoeuvres and increasing the maximum design speed of ALKS, up to 130 km/h.

28. The expert from Germany introduced GRVA-12-20. She announced that some discussions were still taking place and that a revised document would be produced in the course of the week. The expert from EC recalled that the document had been discussed by the IWG on EDR/DSSAD and considered by GRSG, as it had been initially drafted as an amendment to UN Regulation No. 160 (EDR). He explained that following discussions, it was advised that the provisions should be inserted in UN Regulation No. 157, and that therefore the document had then been submitted to the Special Interest Group on UN Regulation No. 157. The expert from CLEPA confirmed that the industry did not have issues with the proposal but that a few last-minute clarifying amendments to the document were necessary. The expert from AAPC mentioned that he would circulate the proposal among his members, with the aim to provide feedback, if possible, during the week.

29. Later in the week, GRVA considered a revised document (GRVA-12-20/Rev.1). The expert from the United States of America, Co-Chair of the IWG on EDR/DSSAD, requested the possibility for her group to review the revised proposal, at a meeting taking place one working day after GRVA. Accordingly, GRVA agreed to keep the text contained in the document in square brackets.

30. GRVA reviewed GRVA-12-51 and GRVA-12-51/Rev.1 (note: document not available) prepared during the week and requested the secretariat to submit GRVA-12-52 (based on formal documents ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRVA/2022/3, ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRVA/2022/4 and informal documents GRVA-12-34, GRVA-12-35, GRVA-12-20/Rev.1 (including square brackets) to WP.29 and AC.1 for consideration and vote at their June 2022 sessions, subject to final review by GRVA at its May 2022 session.

28. The expert from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland introduced the report of the Special Interest Group (SIG) on UN Regulation No. 157, provided in GRVA-11-32. He explained the progress made by the group on the provisions developments related to higher speeds for ALKS concerning: (i) following distances (in line with traffic rules), (ii) smooth and anticipatory driving that avoids inducing string instability in traffic, (iii) strategies to mitigate collisions with wrong way drivers and pedestrians, forward detection ranges along with control strategies to adapt speed if braking performance and/or detection range is impaired and (iv) new performance model introduced for reference. He mentioned the open points still under consideration.

29. GRVA clarified that no decision would be taken at this session, GRVA reviewed the long list of proposals and reference documents under this agenda item and requested the secretariat to remove outdated documents from the agenda for the next session.

30. The expert from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland introduced GRVA-11-33 (amendment proposal by the SIG to raise the specified ALKS maximum speed up to 130 km/h), upon request from the expert of France.

17. The expert from Germany presented GRVA-07-63, introducing ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRVA/2020/32 with a proposal for amendments to UN Regulation No. [157] (ALKS), aimed at increasing the maximum speed (from 60 km/h to 130 km/h) for ALKS. She also introduced a second proposal (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRVA/2020/33) aimed at introducing provisions for ALKS performing lane changes. The experts from Austria, China, Denmark, European Commission, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Republic or Korea, Sweden and UK were rather supportive. They provided ideas and technical comments to improve the proposals. The expert from Switzerland opposed to the proposed speed increase (up to 130 km/h), stating that it would be counterproductive and as Switzerland was reviewing traffic rules based on the adopted 60 km/h. The experts from Japan, Canada and USA did not support the proposals and referred to FDAV as the reference document guiding the work of GRVA on automation. The expert from SAFE stated the need for a clear roadmap, mentioned the challenges for the Technical Services and the Approval Authorities with regards to Level 3 technologies and supported the comments from the European Commission regarding the need for a Regulation addressing Automation on motorways.

18. It was recalled that the expert from UK was working on a proposal for provisions for lane change during the minimum risk manoeuvre.

19. The expert from OICA presented GRVA-07-26, introducing a proposal for amendments to UN Regulation No. [157] (GRVA-07-31), aimed at extending the scope of the Regulation to heavy vehicles. They recalled that these vehicle categories were already in the scope of the activities of the former IWG on Automatically Commanded Steering Function (ACSF), which drafted UN Regulation No. [157].

20. GRVA noted that its work priorities on automation were defined by WP.29 in the FDAV. GRVA also noted that a number of Contracting Parties were willing to work on amendments to UN Regulation No. [157] and therefore decided to consult the Administrative Committee for the coordination of work (AC.2).

21. The expert from the Russian Federation introduced GRVA-07-07, highlighting some inconsistencies between the different parts of UN Regulation No. [157]. He mentioned discrepancies on the use of the term “system”. He questioned the need for Appendix 3 to Annex 4. He then introduced amendment proposal GRVA-07-06 on behalf of the European Commission and the Russian Federation. The expert from OICA responded to the proposal (GRVA-07-59). He also briefly introduced GRVA-07-30, proposing editorial changes to the Regulation and GRVA-07-21 with substantial amendments to the Regulations.

22. The Chair mentioned other informal documents (GRVA-07-27, GRVA-07-45, GRVA-07-56, GRVA-07-62 and GRVA-07-66), proposing amendments to UN Regulation No. [157] and invited the stakeholders to prepare a consolidated document with amendment proposals that could generate consensus at GRVA. Interested parties developed GRVA-07-69-Rev.1.

23. GRVA adopted the amendment proposals marked in green and yellow in GRVA-07-69-Rev.1 (see Annex III of the session report). GRVA requested the secretariat to correct the abbreviations, as appropriate, and to submit it without the text in red as supplement to UN Regulation No. [157], for consideration and vote by the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) its Administrative Committee for the 1958 Agreement (AC.1) at their March 2021 sessions.

24. Following the interpretation request by the expert from France (GRVA-07-39), GRVA agreed that ALKS should in principle detect “approaching emergency vehicles” as per traffic rules, noting that a definition of approaching emergency vehicles as well as other clarifications should be developed as soon as possible.