23. The Chair of the informal working group on QRTV reported on the conclusions of the last meeting of the informal working group held in Geneva on 6-7 February 2012 and announced that his group’s mandate expired. He introduced the final report of the informal working group including the findings and recommendations with regard to the future development of a UN GTR that would specify the applicability and performance of an Audible Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS). He underlined how audibility requires, inter alia, an alerting signal that contains frequencies different from those of most common ambient noise in order to avoid masking effects. In fact, he added that audibility of QRTV for visually impaired people was critical even in a quiet environment. GRB experts noted some comments. GRB agreed on some amendments to the report of the informal working group that were introduced in its final version (GRB-55-14).

24. GRB agreed to resume discussion of this agenda item at its September 2012 session, and requested the secretariat to distribute GRB-55-14 with an official symbol, awaiting the outcome of the informal working group on QRTV.

The Chairman pointed out the need to develop definitions for the various propulsion types that may be covered by the GTR. Considerations include the ability to make meaningful distinctions between various operating modes. These definitions will also be taken into account during the development of the US legislation on quiet vehicles. The definitions that will be developed are likely to become out-dated such that there may be a need to revisit the issue throughout the development of the GTR and beyond. As a first step, the chairman encouraged all participants to attentively read the definitions proposed in the final report from the original QRTV IWG and prepare comments and input for the next meeting of this group.

The findings from this working group may well influence the final outcome of the US national law on quiet vehicles which will be finalised not earlier then late 2013/early 2014. The Chairman noted that NHTSA is open to comments from any stakeholder even after the official comment period on the U.S. NPRM (which will be for a 60 or 90 day period following its publication). This is fortunate since it will almost certainly not be possible for the IWG to comment on the NPRM within the given period because of the requirement for the IWG to route its comments through both the GRB and WP.29/AC.3. The Chairman indicated that the group should strive to develop a GTR that is globally applicable and that shall contain sufficient flexibility for any member state that has signed the 1998 Global Agreement to transpose the GTR into national law. The GTR requirements should be harmonized to the highest extent possible, while offering ways to accommodate necessary national differences.