128. The GRVA Chair recalled the request of WP.29 at its 189th session (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2023/1171, para. 67) to draft a basis document to organize collaboration with WP.1. He introduced the document WP.29-190-07, proposing mechanisms to structure and support the collaboration of WP.1 and WP.29 regarding Automated Driving Systems.
130. The representative of Canada welcomed the document, as it illustrated the scope and purpose of the collaboration as well as some of the objectives and mechanisms. He stressed that working parties should only organize a workshop if there was a specific need.
131. The representative of the Netherlands inquired whether the document was assumed to be completed or open to include new subjects of common interest. The Chair of GRVA clarified that the document was focused on providing a framework for the collaboration between WP.1 and WP.29.
132. The representative of the United States of America welcomed the document and suggested not to include a list of concrete topics, as the document should set the ground rules on how WP.1 and WP.29 communicate with each other.
133. WP.29 welcomed the document and agreed to resume considerations at its November 2023 session.
137. The WP.1 Secretary reported on the Global Forum for Road Traffic Safety (WP.1) session in September 2023 (for more details please see ECE/TRANS/WP.1/185) focusing on the elements being relevant for WP.29. He informed WP.29 about discussions on remote driving, about the Group of Experts on Drafting a New Legal Instrument on the Use of Automated Vehicles in traffic (GE.3), which was currently focusing on the needs assessment as requested by ITC and the ToR review, as requested by WP.1, and about human factors and automated driving. He reported that Canada had submitted a document on human factors principles and procedures for automated vehicle safety (WP.1 informal document No. 9) and that a final version was expected for the next session. The representative of Canada informed WP.29 that WP.1 had discussed the document for collaboration between the two working parties (WP.29-190-07) but understood from the report by the GRVA Chair that the document would be further discussed at WP.29. He stated that WP.1 was looking forward for more guidance on that document from WP.29 at its March 2024 session.
138. The representative of Canada invited the WP.29 delegates to provide comments on the WP.1 informal document No. 9 and stated that the work of the IWG on FRAV under this user stream connected well to this document.
139. The representative of the United Kingdom highlighted the importance of consideration of human factors but asked for clarification on the intended use of this document. He also noted that the document makes reference to requirements for the design and development of vehicles and noted that this relates to responsibilities of WP.29.
140. The representative of Canada, after the request from the representative of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, that this document was not intended exclusively for one of the working parties and stated that it was intended for consideration by those parties that were involved in road safety eco-system. He added that there was still the possibility to change the scope and make it more specific to road safety.
141. The representative of Canada suggested, regarding the collaboration between WP.1 and WP.29, that WP.29 delegates from all GRs should identify issues, gaps and common areas of work and provide comments to the collaboration document. He proposed to underpin this collaboration through general WP.29 working tools, e.g., programme of work, framework document.
142. The GRVA Secretary suggested the delegations to translate the positions expressed into amendments to the collaboration document WP.29-190-07, to support the effort initiated by the GRVA Chair. He asked, for clarification, if WP.29 was proposing to expand the scope of the collaboration between WP.1 and WP.29 beyond ADS and pointed out that waiting for comments from all WP.29 subsidiary bodies could extend the process by six or nine months. The representative of Canada clarified that the scope should stay the same and stated that this topic affected several GRs, e.g. regarding light signalling.
143. WP.29 agreed to the proposal by the representative of the United States of America to request both, the GRs and the WP.29 experts to provide comments to the collaboration document.
6. The WP.29 Secretary reported that:
- AC.2 reviewed the calendar of meetings for 2024. AC.2 noted that GRPE would cancel its May 2024 session and would organize a workshop instead. AC.2 agreed that GRVA organize a formal session on 25 June 2024 during the week of the 193rd session of WP.29 in order to formalise decisions that would be recommended during the informal GRVA session organized in Troy, Michigan, United States of America from 20-25 May 2024. AC.2 recommended WP.29 to support this decision.
- AC.2 reviewed the calendar of meetings for 2025. AC.2 welcomed the organization of the May 2025 session of GRVA in the premises of ESCAP in Bangkok (Thailand) as an official session and recommended WP.29 to support this decision.
- AC.2 discussed the coordination of work on Automated Driving System (ADS). AC.2 recommended to circulate to all subsidiary working parties (GRs) the two informal documents for information: GRVA-18-33 (related to the Regulatory Fitness for ADS) and GRVA-18-34/Rev.1 (related to review of UN vehicle regulations with regards to their relevance for software updates).
- AC.2 discussed the collaboration between the Global Forum for Road Traffic Safety, WP.1, and WP.29 on Automated Vehicles and recommended that the WP.29 subsidiary bodies consider WP.29-190-07 during their next sessions.
- AC.2 discussed the GR priorities noted in the draft Programme of Work (PoW) 2024 and requested the secretariat to reflect its suggestions e.g. on limiting the number of priorities in a revised version.
- AC.2 noted the outcome of the Special session of the Executive Committee of the 1998 Agreement (AC.3), held on 20 December 2023 and noted that the advice by the United Nations competent office was still pending.
- AC.2 discussed the extension of the IWG on EVS. AC.2 recommended the extension of its mandate to allow for continuation of the current work.
- At the same time, AC.2 also recommended that the formalization of the special interest group on EVS is agreed to work on the amendment to UN Regulation No. 100 (Electric power trained vehicles), based on the result achieved so far by IWG on EVS.
- AC.2 noted the withdrawal of ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2024/2 (agenda item 4.6.1) as requested by GRBP and expected an updated version for consideration at the June 2024 sessions of WP.29 and AC.1.
- AC.2 approved the participation of the Association of European Wheel Manufacturers (EUWA) and Eurogas under Rule 1(d) of the WP.29 rules of procedures (TRANS/WP.29/690/Rev.2).
- AC.2 recommended AC.4 not to convene.