2.3. | Intelligent Transport Systems and coordination of automated vehicles related activities

25. The representative of France presented WP.29-190-23, introducing the report on screening UN Regulations and UN Global Technical Regulations (GTRs) regarding their fitness for Automated Driving Systems (ADS) (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2023/86), prepared by the Chair of GRVA TF on Fitness for ADS. He mentioned the recent technological advancements on automated driving and their potential impact on vehicle regulations. He recalled the mandate provided by WP.29 to review vehicles regulations on their fitness for ADS, the structure of the task forces in charge of performing this task, the timeframe allocated and the coordination mechanism involving the Chairs of the task forces. He presented the three objectives of the review:

1. the determination of the relevance of the vehicle regulations for ADS;
2. the readiness evaluation of the relevant vehicle regulations; and
3. the determination of the magnitude of changes needed for non-ready regulations.

He presented the overview of the review results. He highlighted the main recommendations in the report:

1. the need to develop vehicle subcategories for ADS;
2. the Operational Design Domain (ODD) impact on performance and testing provisions;
3. the need for a test mode for executing performance tests with automated vehicles; and
4. unknown policies related to the use of ADS including, among others, the transport of dangerous good and the expected ADS reaction to passengers unfastening their seatbelt.

He proposed that the established coordination of TFs would continue to provide coordination and invited GRs to start the work on amending the regulations.

26. The Chair of GRPE commented on the current review performed by the GRPE Task Force on Automated Vehicles Regulations Screening (AVRS) in delivering feedback because of the schedule of GRPE sessions and announced that this workstream would be completed soon.

27. The representative of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland welcomed the report and volunteered to support the production of amendment proposals to the vehicle regulations.

28. The Chair of GRVA noted the important effort made to deliver this report and stated that it was a good example of international cooperation among contracting parties and also among working parties. The representative of the Netherlands agreed.

29. The representative of the European Union noted the importance for this work both for type approval and self-certification regimes. He recalled the industry request for a certification system for ADS safety in 2025 and inquired about the envisaged deadlines for this important workstream, in particular in relation to the drafting of amendments.

30. The representative of the United States of America noted the completion of the initial phase envisaged for the review of vehicle regulations on their fitness for ADS. He noted paras. 44 and 45 of report and inquired on the envisaged structure of the second phase as proposed, considering the workplan of the IWG on FRAV.

31. The representative of OICA expressed the importance of progressing on three workstreams: the FRAV/VMAD combined deliverable, the vehicle regulation amendment work and the new vehicle subcategory definitions for ADS.

32. WP.29 adopted ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2023/86. WP.29 agreed that the established coordination of TFs would continue to provide coordination and invited GRs to start the work on amending the regulations, taking into account the activities of the IWGs on VMAD and FRAV (especially WP.29-190-08, as potentially amended during next sessions). WP.29 also requested the GRs to present a timeline for amending the remaining relevant regulations at the WP.29 session in March 2024.

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