SDWEE-06-03:
As a reminder, input was requested to Industry concerning

• - the questions raised by NL per document SDWEE-06-03 (“May the folding seat for the crew always obstruct the access passage to the service door when there are more exits than the minimum required by paragraph 7.6.1.4”), and
• - the accessibility of the service doors

The answer of the informal group was that, according to the current wording of the regulation, it is allowed. The group also confirmed that this interpretation is conforming to the spirit of the regulation and that there is no need to amend the text.

SDWEE-07-02:
HUN presented the context of the accident which occurred in Egypt, with the understandable consequences in the Hungarian society. The expert explained his personal conclusions of the tragedy. He found this as a good opportunity for the group and GRSG to undertake the steps for improving the situation.

The Chair recalled the accident which occurred in Sweden and was discussed at GRSG, which generated also a discussion on toughened vs. laminated glass. He questioned whether the vehicle in stake in the Egyptian accident was complying with the requirements currently in force in Europe and at UNECE level (EVSC, age of the vehicle, etc). Concerning the debate about the glazing material, the Chair recalled that the informal group decided not to be design restrictive and rather to let the manufacturer some freedom about the technology.

Concerning the vehicle itself, the chassis was probably bought to a European manufacturer, with some completion performed in Egypt. The HUN expert was keen not to blindly trust active safety systems, rather to continue improving the passive safety. He for example stated that the presence of safety belts would not have totally solved the situation in the case of this accident.

Conclusion: no passive safety feature would have alone avoided this tragedy. Only the EVSC would have avoided this.

It was also recalled that laminated glass is not forbidden in the current text of the regulation.