Proposal to introduce a new paragraph 0.4 clarifying that second-level warnings apply when one seat-belt is unfastened during normal driving, excluding situations of higher priority warnings such as door opening or thermal propagation, to amend the definition of “normal operation” to specify forward motion above 10 km/h without other safety warnings triggered, and modify paragraph 5.2.4.3 to allow discontinuation of second-level warnings when other audible safety warnings are triggered in circumstances of imminent danger.

Proposal to amend UN Global Technical Regulation No. 20 on electric vehicle safety, focusing on thermal propagation triggered by single-cell thermal runaway. The amendment introduces two compliance paths: a physical test approach with five initiation methods (external heater, internal heaters, nail penetration, laser-based initiation) performed at vehicle or component level; and a risk management approach requiring manufacturers to document known risks and mitigation strategies. Vehicles must provide advance warning 5 minutes before hazardous conditions (fire, explosion, smoke) occur in the passenger compartment. Phase 2 discussions concluded that water immersion tests, long-term fire resistance tests, REESS rotation tests, vibration profile modifications, AC/DC charging protections, and heavy-duty overcurrent tests do not require regulatory inclusion based on available field evidence and safety analysis.

Proposal to finalize a status report on Amendment 1 to UN Global Technical Regulation No. 20 on electric vehicle safety. The IWG-EVS conducted Phase 2 work addressing topics including water immersion tests, fire resistance, battery rotation and vibration, thermal propagation, and charging safety. The group maintained existing regulatory text except for thermal propagation provisions. Two compliance paths were developed: a physical test method with five initiation options and a risk management approach. Phase 3 will address thermal propagation scope expansion, post-crash safety, in-use battery maintenance, swappable batteries, light vehicles, gas emissions criteria, and bottom protection.

Proposal to amend UN Regulation No. 129 to remove rebound head contact from the head acceleration requirement for all Child Restraint Systems. The regulation currently lacks consistency regarding whether rebound head movement is considered in testing. Variations in test bench design cause booster seats to pass in some laboratories but fail in others based solely on rebound contact. The proposal ensures consistency between different CRS types and reproducibility across laboratories with different test bench designs, and aligns with the approach in UN Regulations 94 and 137.

The Working Party on Passive Safety held its 78th session in Geneva from 1-4 December 2025. GRSP adopted amendments to multiple UN Regulations affecting automated vehicles, including UN R11, R12, R14, R16, R17, R21, R29, R94, R95, R100, R127, R129, R134, R135, R137, R145, R153, R173, and R174. Additional proposals addressed hydrogen and fuel cell vehicles, electric vehicle safety, child restraint systems, pedestrian safety, and protective helmets. GRSP approved creation of task forces on emergency door opening and established new working groups on children left in vehicles and equitable occupant protection. Budget constraints affecting UN secretariat operations were noted.

Draft request prepared by the EU proposing a Phase 3 covering:

1. Expansion of protection scope of thermal propagation test;
2. Post-crash REESS safety assessment, stabilization procedures and nonoccupant and surroundings safety;
3. Maintaining the EV battery safety during the in-use phase;
4. Safety of swappable batteries;
5. Micromobility, light-category vehicles, e-trailers safety;
6. Quantitative criteria on flammability, toxicity and corrosiveness of vented gases and smoke; and
7. Bottom protection.