Japan presented a proposal for narrow vehicles (see PSI-07-10).

Ms Versailles commented that the proposal appeared to be very well justified for Japan, but that the crash circumstances would be unlikely to be the same for these narrow vehicles in all countries. Ms Versailles did not support the 26 km/h test speed for narrow vehicles being mandated for all Contracting Parties in the GTR, but was supportive of Contracting Parties being provided with the option to limit the test speed to 26 km/h in their own domestic legislation.

Mr Ammerlaan agreed that exceptions such as the proposed reduction in test speed for narrow vehicles should be a matter for each national territory and should not be required to be implemented by all nations.

Mr Szymanski concurred with Ms Versailles and Mr Ammerlaan, noting that narrow vehicles which may not satisfy authorities’ safety concerns may appear on European roads in the future. Mr Szymanski therefore supported retaining the original wording regarding the test speed option for narrow vehicles.

Mr Damm also supported retaining the original wording regarding the test speed option for narrow vehicles.

Mr Hogan noted that Japan could have dealt with this narrow vehicle issue through exemption in national legislation. Mr Hogan felt that Japan deserved credit for trying to find a way to include some requirements for narrow vehicles rather than exempting them completely. Mr Hogan’s view was that the GTR and resultant UN Regulation would be able to be drafted in a way that allowed Contracting Parties to exercise their own sovereign rights, in determining whether narrow vehicles tested to a lower speed were admitted to their markets, but also accommodated Japan’s concerns regarding narrow vehicles.

Ms Versailles suggested some concerns may relate to the mandating of a review period in the GTR, which could be alleviated by removing the time period for review from the GTR regulatory text and including a suitable statement in the preamble noting that the test speed for narrow vehicles should be reviewed in the future.

It was agreed that the 26 km/h maximum test speed for narrow vehicles (vehicles with a width less than 1.5m) would remain at the option of the Contracting Party and appropriate text recommending appropriate future review(s) of the technical need for this option would be included in the preamble.