Draft revision of the regulation on the installation of lighting equipment that incorporates the draft proposal for a horizontal reference document covering provisions used across other lighting regulations.

Revised proposal to introduce flashing side marker lamps for vehicles of categories M2, M3, N2, N3, O3 and O4 with the objective of improving the safety of vulnerable road users by informing them about the intended turns of buses and heavy goods vehicles and their trailers. This proposal replaces the version presented in document GRE/2014/33.

Proposal to introduce type-approval provisions for lamps intended to provide supplemental lateral illumination of the road on the driver-side of the vehicle as a means to reduce the impact of glare from on-coming vehicle headlamps on driver vision and road visibility.

Document GRE/2014/31 proposes to introduce requirements to avoid intentional non-approved (voltage) variation of the passing and driving beam, using halogen light sources and to harmonize it with the operating voltage requirements in Regulation No. 48. This correction seeks to improve the text by replacing the “about value” for the reference luminous flux with the exact value of 13.2V and to simplify the C.o.P. procedure.

Front fog lamps may be reciprocally incorporated with the main beam and in some cases, it is required to switch off the front fog lamp when the main beam is operated to avoid overheating of the device. In this case, Regulation No. 19 requires a “/” in the approval marking. However, the current text in paragraph 6.3.7 of Regulation No. 48 requires that “it shall be possible to switch the front fog lamps ON and OFF independently of the main-beam headlamps”. This proposal is intended to remove the conflict between the texts of the two regulations. This proposal supersedes and replaces document GRE/2014/22 and has been prepared to remove ambiguities identified in the previous proposal.

During the 71st session of GRE, the experts from GTB presented the outcome of a study on visibility and glare of automotive low beam headlamps; see informal document GRE-71-32. The study concentrated on levelling in relation to load. The major objectives of the study were to improve the understanding of different factors that influence visibility and glare and to identify results of the study that might reveal alternatives for automatic static levelling. The deciding factors in headlamp glare have been determined to be the vehicle pitch angle, loading conditions and initial headlamp aim. Therefore, this proposal looks at replacing the light source technology and the light source 2,000 lm criterion in UN Regulation No. 48 as criteria for the requirement for automatic levelling with performance requirements based upon these deciding factors.

Proposal to require that side marker lamps mounted on M2, M3, N2, N3, O 3 and O4 vehicles flash simultaneously with the direction-indicator lamps. The aim is to prevent death and injury to cyclists by improving their reaction time through clearer indication of the intended turn of a longer vehicle.

OICA comments on document GRE/2014/39 proposing to align UN R48 with the proposal approved by the GRSG to require the automatic activation of hazard warning lights in buses and coaches in the event of excess temperatures in the engine and/or other compartments.

German proposal amending its earlier draft supplement to UN R48 that would introduce provisions for flashing side marker lamps for M2, M3, N2, N3, O3 and O4 category vehicles in order to promote the safety of vulnerable road users by informing them about the intended turns of buses and heavy goods vehicles and their trailers. The change would exempt the proposed requirement from the transitional provisions of the 06 series of amendments.

Proposal to clarify the definitions and requirements associated with the installation of “single lamps”, “lamps marked D” and “Interdependent lamps”, to ensure that the introduction of the new class F marking materials does not conflict with the mandatory requirements for existing class C materials, and to enable the type-approval of direction indicators with variable apparent surfaces.

Proposal to clarify the definitions and requirements associated with the installation of “single lamps”, “lamps marked D” and “Interdependent lamps”, to ensure that the introduction of the new class F marking materials does not conflict with the mandatory requirements for existing class C materials, and to extend the modifications that introduced provisions for interdependent direction indicator lamps in the 06 series of amendments to UN R48 to the 05 series in order to avoid an unjustified design restriction for approvals under the earlier version of the regulation.

Proposal to clarify the definitions and requirements associated with the installation of “single lamps”, “lamps marked D” and “Interdependent lamps” and to ensure that the introduction of the new class F marking materials does not conflict with the mandatory requirements for existing class C materials. This proposal also would extend modifications that introduced provisions for interdependent direction indicator lamps in the 06 series of amendments to UN R48 to the 04 and 05 series in order to avoid an unjustified design restriction for approvals under the earlier versions of the regulation.

Proposal to correct a series of editorial errors.

Proposal to introduce flashing side marker lamps for vehicles of categories M2, M3, N2, N3, O3 and O4 with the objective of improving the safety of vulnerable road users by informing them about the intended turns of buses and heavy goods vehicles and their trailers.

Proposal to allow cornering lights to remain on as long as the vehicle speed does not exceed 10 km/h as a measure to improve visibility during slow manoeuvres.

The Working Party on General Safety (GRSG) has approved a proposal to require the automatic activation of hazard warning lights in buses and coaches in the event of excess temperatures in the engine and/or other compartments. This proposal would align UN R48 with this new requirement so a complete set of amendments can be presented for adoption at the March 2015 session of the World Forum.

Proposal to delete the requirement for automatic leveling devices for all headlamps with light emitting diode (LED) light sources based upon the results of a GTB study.

Front fog lamps may be reciprocally incorporated with the main beam and in some cases, it is required to switch off the front fog lamp when the main beam is operated to avoid overheating of the device. In this case, Regulation No. 19 requires a “/” in the approval marking. However, the current text in paragraph 6.3.7 of Regulation No. 48 requires that “it shall be possible to switch the front fog lamps ON and OFF independently of the main-beam headlamps”. This proposal is intended to remove the conflict between the texts of the two regulations.

Brief presentation raising question over the necessity to have triangular reflectors on the rear of large trailers and seeking greater flexibility in such rear reflectors.

Document GRE/2014/13 proposes to ensure that the introduction of the new class F marking materials does not conflict with the mandatory requirements for existing class C materials. The addition of Class F brings markings required under certain countries’ national legislation within the UN regulatory system. However, Japan actually prohibits the use of white retro-reflective markings on the rear of vehicles. Therefore, Japan proposes the addition of a footnote confirming the right of Contracting Parties to prohibit the use of Class F markings under national legislation.

Presently, UN R48 requires that reverse lights be switched off when cornering lights are switched off. OICA argues that the simultaneous lightning of both cornering lamps for slow maneuvers in forward motion (e.g., while parking a vehicle) can increase safety by improved illumination of surroundings. Therefore, OICA proposes that cornering lights be allowed to remain on as long as the vehicle speed does not exceed 10 km/h.

Proposal to introduce flashing side marker lamps for vehicles of categories N₂, N₃, O₃ and O₄. The objective of this provision is to improve the safety of vulnerable road users by better informing them about the intention of a heavy goods vehicle to make a turn. Germany believes this to be a simple measure that will improve the safety level especially for cyclists and pedestrians located in the blind spot area of a heavy goods vehicle.

Status report on efforts to resolve concerns related to automatic headlamp leveling provisions and their impact on visibility and on-coming driver glare.

Proposal to extend the modifications that introduced provisions for interdependent direction indicator lamps in the 06 series of amendments to UN R48 to the 04 and 05 series in order to avoid an unjustified design restriction for approvals under the earlier versions of the regulation.

Discussion document on tell-tale requirements in Regulation No. 48 versus Regulation No. 121 and consideration of establishing a task force to further discuss the issues involved. Pursuant to discussions at the previous two GRE sessions concerning the use of the term “failure tell-tale” in relation to daytime running lamps and adaptive front lighting systems (AFS) in UN R48 and the potential impact on UN R121 concerning the “location and identification of hand controls, tell-tales and indicators”, the Netherlands proposes the formation of a special task force to study the issues and propose draft amendments for lighting regulations as warranted.

Correction to paragraph 6.2.7.6.1. where the reference should read Annex 13 instead of Annex 12.

Proposal to ensure that the introduction of the new class F marking materials does not conflict with the mandatory requirements for existing class C materials. Class F markings are designed with alternate stripe pattern to be applied to special utility vehicles or trailers not regularly covered by standard contour marking materials requires amending the definitions.

Text prepared by the International Automotive Lighting and Light Signalling Expert Group (GTB) to clarify the definitions and requirements associated with the installation of “single lamps”, “lamps marked D” and “Interdependent lamps”.

Text prepared by Poland to introduce an alternative set of performance-based requirements for the initial aiming of dipped-beam headlamps and allowing removing the artificial 2,000 lm borderline and Light Emitting Diode (LED) automatic levelling.