17. The expert from the Russian Federation introduced GRSG-124-28 on the assessment of escape hatch operability according to the national requirements of the contracting parties. The experts from Germany, Italy, the Republic of Korea and the United Kingdom expressed study reservations to understand the consequences of the proposal. GRSG agreed to resume discussion at its March 2023 session and requested the secretariat to distribute GRSG-124-28 with an official symbol at that session.

16. GRSG noted ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSG/2023/2, tabled by the expert from the Russian Federation. The expert from Japan did not support the proposal because of lack of consistency with the principle of mutual recognition of type approvals of the 1958 Agreement. For similar reasons, the proposal also did not receive the support of the experts from France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, United Kingdom and EC. Finally, GRSG did not support the proposal. On suggestion of the GRSG Chair, it was agreed to resume consideration on a possible new proposal tabled by the expert from the Russian Federation and to remove this item from the agenda of the October 2023 session of GRSG.

18. The expert from the Russian Federation informed GRSG that his delegation had received several comments to his proposal (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSG/2023/2), and that experts from his country were working on a revision. He also clarified that his country had published a new standard that already reproduces the revised proposal he intended to submit. GRSG agreed to resume discussion on this subject at its April 2024 session.

25. The expert from the Russian Federation introduced GRSG-127-36 as a revised version of his earlier proposal (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSG/2023/2). He added that the proposal included the definitions “escape hatch” and “emergency exit”, and revised testing provisions in the annex 5 of the UN Regulation. The expert from Japan expressed a study reservation to the proposal. Finally GRSG agreed to resume discussion on the proposal at its October 2024 session and requested the secretariat to distribute GRSG-127-36 with an official number at that session.

17. The expert from the Russian Federation introduced ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSG/2024/39 as a revision of an earlier proposal (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSG/2023/2). He added that the proposal included the definitions “escape hatch” and “emergency exit”, in line with UN Regulation No. 107, and the revised testing provisions in annex 5 of the UN Regulation. The expert from OICA introduced GRSG-128-18 arguing that some of the provisions on seat strength were already covered by UN Regulation No. 80 (Strength of seats and their anchorages (buses)). Moreover, he added that the proposal led to an increase stringency that needed a new series of amendments. The expert from Germany expressed reservation on the proposed post-collision test and that a separate test should be added. The expert from Sweden supported the expert from Germany. The experts from France and Italy supported the position of the expert from OICA. The expert from the Russian Federation introduced a revised proposal (GRSG-128-43) superseding ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSG/2024/39. The expert from Italy expressed a study reservation and stated his intention to send comments to the expert of the Russian Federation. The expert from Germany suggested that a meeting with interested parties should check the list of objects proposed by GRSG-128-43 that should stay in place in the bus after a crash. The expert from France made a proviso, a caveat, that this list that could be covered by national legislation. Finally, the expert from the Russian Federation agreed to organise a meeting with interested experts and announced a revised proposal for the April 2025 session of GRSG.