75. The Chair of GRSG presented two new UN Regulations, UN Regulation No. [166] on Vulnerable Road Users in Front and Side Close Proximity (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2022/139) and UN Regulation No. [167] on Vulnerable Road Users (VRU) Direct Vision (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2022/140/Rev.1). He highlighted that the proposal in document, ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2022/139 aimed to enhance driver awareness, e.g. with devices including mirrors and/or camera monitor systems, making that regulation technology neutral. For the document ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2022/140/Rev.1, he noted that the proposed new UN Regulation allows for better views on trucks to address the risks posed to VRUs. The World Forum considered the proposals under agenda items 4.13.1 and 4.13.2 and recommended their submission to AC.1 for voting.

76. The representative of the Republic of Korea made a statement regarding agenda item 4.13.1. He noted that the Republic of Korea was taking various measures to prevent traffic accidents involving vulnerable road users, such as lowering urban speed limits, enforcing drivers to make a full stop at a crosswalk regardless if pedestrians are present, and extending AEBS requirements to all vehicles including passenger cars.

77. He added that the proposal for the new UN Regulation was going to enhance drivers’ awareness of vulnerable road users at the front and sides of vehicles and it was anticipated to help reducing accidents involving pedestrians.

78. He further highlighted that, in a similar way, the Acceleration Control for Pedal Error (ACPE) proposed at the fourteenth GRVA meeting would help preventing accidents caused by drivers’ mistakes. He concluded that the Republic of Korea fully supported the proposal and was going to actively participate in the discussion group.

79. The representative of the European Union informed WP.29 that the European Union would not mandate UN Regulation No. [166] for the purpose of the EU whole vehicle type approval.

24. The expert from Japan introduced, through presentation (GRSG-123-17), the new draft UN Regulation on awareness of VRU-Proxi who are in the front and lateral side proximity of vehicles (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSG/2022/6 and GRSG-123-18 amending it).

25. GRSG adopted ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSG/2022/6 as amended by annex VI to the report. The secretariat was requested to submit the proposal as the draft new UN Regulation No. XXX (VRU in Front and Side Close Proximity) to WP.29 and AC.1 for consideration and vote at their November 2022 sessions. The expert from EC welcomed the proposal and clarified that this new UN Regulation would not become mandatory in the European Union in the near future, but most likely in a farther future.

26. GRSG agreed to consider a proposal of amendment (supplement/new series of amendments) at its October 2022 session, announced by the expert of the Russian Federation, to the new UN Regulation No. XXX (VRU in Front and Side Close Proximity).

29. The expert from Japan, on behalf of the IWG on awareness of Vulnerable Road Users proximity in low-speed manoeuvres (VRU-Proxi), introduced GRSG-122-19 (an explanation of document GRSG-122-16) a new regulation proposal on uniform provisions concerning the approval of devices and motor vehicles regarding the driver’s awareness of vulnerable road users existing front and lateral side proximity of vehicles. He explained the aim of the proposal, was to combine the effectiveness of various detection systems to mitigate the road traffic fatalities by improving the detection of pedestrians using the different systems.

30. The expert from OICA referring to document GRSG-122-19, said the presentation didn’t include data on pedestrian accidents caused by L category vehicles and asked if all pedestrian accidents in Japan only involved M1 and N1 vehicles. She also questioned the minimum age of pedestrians in the report, which was pegged at 5 years old stating pedestrians less than 5 years were not included in the report. The expert from Japan explained the focus of his presentation only included pedestrian fatalities caused by L category vehicles. He further explained the reason for the 5 years age limit is pedestrians below this age, are mostly accompanied by adults.

31. GRSG considered GRSG-122-16 and GRSG-122-19 and requested its submission as an official document for the 123rd session of GRSG.