58. The World Forum noted that this item had been postponed to a future session awaiting comments from the Working Party on Road Safety (WP.1) on the development of the Agreement and draft Rule No. 2 (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2009/135) as well as comments from experts of GRSG, GRSP, GRE and GRRF concerning the development of draft Rule No. 2 only. The Secretary of WP.1 announced that WP.1 would consider the future development of the Agreement as well as draft Rule No. 2 at its September 2010 session.
81. The secretary of the Working Party on Road Safety (WP.1) informed World Forum about the results of the September 2010 session of WP.1 (ECE/TRANS/WP.1/129) regarding the future development of the Agreement (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2010/72). The representative of the Russian Federation recalled that the European Agreement of 1971 supplementing the Vienna Convention imposes the obligation of the driver to carry a valid International Technical Inspection Certificate. He underlined the current absence of international requirements establishing a list of components or elements to be checked to ensure vehicle safety and setting out the methods to be used during periodic inspections and importance of draft Rule No. 2 implemented by the World Forum. He informed the World Forum about his intention to present a proposal for consideration at the next session of WP.1 in March 2011. The World Forum considered inappropriate, for the time being, that the secretariat send a letter to the signatories to the Agreement recommending their accession.
82. Regarding Draft Rule No. 2 (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2009/135), the World Forum noted that GRE and GRSG had considered the draft and that GRSP and GRRF would consider it at their next sessions in December 2010 and February 2011 respectively. The World Forum agreed to have, on the basis of the comments received, a final review of the proposal at its March 2011 session.
83. The World Forum noted the offer by the International Motor Vehicle Inspection Committee (CITA) to continue its cooperation for the development of the 1997 Agreement, in particular for the updating of Rule No. 1 to the same level as the corresponding EU Directive.
67. The secretariat suggested that, after the adoption of UN Rule No. 2, two options could be considered for the future development of the Agreement: (a) Update UN Rule Nos. 1 and 2 to the same level of the corresponding EU Directives, or (b) to keep the UN Rules at a lower level that could allow developing an adequate level of Periodical Technical Inspections (PTI) to those countries without a PTI system. It was reminded that, at the March 2011 session, WP.29 representatives were invited to define their strategic position on this matter (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/1089, para 83).
68. The representative of the Russian Federation recalled the importance of harmonized requirements for the construction of vehicles and, as a consequence, also of technical provisions for PTI. Both set of requirements contribute to improved road safety. He expressed his preference for a harmonized approach and insisted on the urgency to adopt UN Rule No. 2.
87. The World Forum noted that no progress was made by the Working Party on Road Safety (WP.1) at its September 2011 session on the link between the 1968 Vienna Convention and the 1997 Agreement. The representative of the Russian Federation underlined the importance of UN Rule No. 2 for road traffic safety and stated the wish of his country to enforce at it the earliest possible (time/date). In the meantime, he invited WP.1 to revise the Consolidated Resolution on Road Safety to take into account the roadworthiness provisions of UN Rule No. 2. Finally, he suggested contacting CITA representatives to ask their collaboration for a possible revision of the UN Rules.
84. As a follow-up of the completion of the Agreement with the entry into force of UN Rule No. 2, WP.29 agreed to extend the scope of UN Rule Nos. 1 and 2 to cover vehicles of categories M1, N1 and O1 making the Agreement more useful for emerging economies and for those countries not having a periodical technical inspection (PTI) system. Accordingly, WP.29 agreed to defer at a later stage the alignment of the provisions of both UN Rules to the corresponding EU Directive.
85. The World Forum noted the offer by the International Motor Vehicle Inspection Committee (CITA) for a continued cooperation on the development of the 1997 Agreement, in particular for the extended scope of both UN Rules.