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.

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.

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.

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 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 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.

The provisional running order for the June 2026 GRSP session is as follows. Monday 1 June, afternoon session (14:30–17:30): adoption of the agenda and other business on airbag safety and World Forum highlights. Tuesday 2 June, morning and afternoon sessions: UN Global Technical Regulation No. 13, UN Regulation No. 134, UN Global Technical Regulation No. 20, UN Regulation No. 100, UN Global Technical Regulation No. 1, and UN Regulation No. 11. Wednesday 3 June, morning and afternoon sessions: UN Regulation No. 17, UN Regulation No. 129, UN Regulation No. 170, UN Regulation No. 174, other business on child restraint systems, UN Regulation No. 22, UN Regulation No. 127, and UN Regulation No. 153. Thursday 4 June, morning and afternoon sessions: collective amendments to UN Regulations that impact automated vehicles, other business on vehicle automation and software updates, new UN Global Technical Regulation on children left in vehicles, and equitable occupant protection. Friday 5 June, morning session (9:30–12:30): items may be discussed depending on progress.

Proposal to amend para. 2.9. to define “ISOFIX position” as one that satisfies requirements of this Regulation to allow installation of ISOFIX child restraint systems as defined in UN R44 and UN R129, amend para. 2.24. to define “i-Size seating position” as one that satisfies requirements of this Regulation to allow installation of i-Size child restraint systems as defined in UN Regulation No. 129, amend para. 5.2.2.7. to exclude low ISOFIX anchorages installed in vehicles of category M₂ or M₃ from certain requirements, amend para. 5.2.4.1. to exclude vehicles of category M₂ and M₃ from marking requirements, and amend para. 6.2.5.1. to establish differentiated seat inertia forces for vehicles of categories M₂, N₂, M₃, and N₃. The justification clarifies that the definitions are based on tests fulfilled in this Regulation regarding strength rather than CRS category, addresses that the prior ISOFIX position definition incorrectly allowed i-Size CRS installation in non-i-Size positions, and harmonizes inertia loads for M₂ and M₃ vehicles with UN R14.

Proposal to amend para. 2.27. to redefine “ISOFIX position” as a position satisfying UN R145 requirements to allow installation of ISOFIX child restraint systems as defined in UN R44 and UN R129, amend para. 2.36. to redefine “i-Size seating position” as a position satisfying UN R145 requirements to allow installation of i-Size child restraint systems as defined in UN R129, insert new para. 2.48. defining “Minimum effective seat belt length” as a portion of seat belt webbing usable to restrain an occupant, insert new para. 5.1.11. specifying minimum effective seat belt lengths of at least 2040 mm for 3-point seat belts and 1200 mm for 2-point seat belts in vehicles of categories M₂ and M₃, amend para. 5.2.1. to establish seating position requirements for various child restraint system types by vehicle category, amend para. 5.2.2. to delete reference to manufacturer recommendations, amend para. 5.3.5. to limit information requirements to category M₁ vehicles, insert new para. 11.3. establishing transitional provisions with entry into force of the 02 series of amendments on the official date and mandatory non-acceptance of earlier series approvals issued after 1 September 2030, delete para. 1.2. of Annex 6 Appendix 2, and insert new Annex 8 specifying measurement procedure for minimum effective seat belt length.

Proposal to delete paras. 15.1.2. and 15.1.3., renumber para. 15.1.4. as 15.1.2., and amend the renumbered para. 15.1.2. to provide that as from 36 months after the official date of entry into force of the 06 series of amendments, Contracting Parties applying this Regulation may prohibit the sale of helmets and visors which do not meet the requirements of the 06 series of amendments. The proposal is based on informal document GRSP-78-44 and permits Contracting Parties to issue approvals according to the 05 series of amendments, which aligns with Revision 3 of the 1958 Agreement.

Proposal to transpose GTR-9 Amendment 3 (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2024/77) on technical requirements for Deployable Pedestrian Protection Systems, amend Chapter 0 Introduction, amend para. 2. to add provisions for vehicles equipped with DPPS and measurements taken with system undeployed, delete footnotes 2 and 3 from para. 2.1., replace reference to 2.27. by 2.29. in para. 2.31., delete footnotes 5 and 6 from paras. 2.43. and 2.45., insert new paras. 2.50. to 2.61. defining DPPS-related terms including Deployment Time, Detection test area, Head Impact Time, Sensors and Testing of DPPS, amend para. 4.2. to delete approval number supplementation provisions, delete para. 4.4.3., amend paras. 5.2. to 5.2.2. to reference Annex 7 requirements when tested with DPPS activated, replace paras. 11.1. to 11.25. with transitional provisions and insert paras. 11.26. to 11.29. establishing that as from entry into force Contracting Parties shall not refuse type-approvals under 05 series amendments, as from 1 September 2031 shall not accept prior series approvals first issued after that date, shall continue accepting prior approvals first issued before 1 September 2031, and shall continue granting approvals using atypical windscreen fracture procedures until 1 September 2033, amend Annex 1 para. 9.23.1., amend text under Annex 2 heading, amend Annex 3 para. 3.2., and insert new Annexes 7 and 8 establishing test procedures for DPPS including prerequisites, HIT verification methods, headform test procedures, HBM qualification, and documentation requirements.

Proposal to amend para. 3.3.2. to insert structured subsections for REESS trade name, cell types, physical dimensions, description, electrical specifications, gas combination rate, installation description, thermal management and electronic control, insert new paras. 4. to 9.1. requiring information on fuel cell specifications, fuses and circuit breakers, power wiring harness, protection against electric shock, power circuit component details, and hydrogen system components located in the energy absorption zone. These modifications address insufficiently defined topics on REESS type, electrical system and hydrogen system in vehicles by introducing relevant sections from UN R100 and adding hydrogen system documentation requirements.

TF-AVRS submitted its status report to GRSP-79, advancing work on draft new Y-category Passive Safety Regulation and amendments to UN R127 for Y-category vehicles. The draft regulation addresses fuel system integrity, electrical shock protection, and crash compatibility based on UN R94, R95, R137, and R153. Horizontal items included eliminating R point problems, passenger compartment references, and A and B pillar designations, with harmonised mass definitions and consolidated numbering. Targets for 2026 included reviewing AVRS-adopted documents, correcting three regulations, and consistency checks across ADS amendments for WP.29-199.

Proposal to establish a new UN Regulation on crashworthiness of vehicles of category N₁Y with regard to protection of fuel system integrity, protection against electrical shock and vehicle crash compatibility in the event of frontal, rear-end and lateral collision. This Regulation applies to vehicles of category N₁Y and prescribes requirements for frontal impact based on UN R94 for vehicles not exceeding 2,500 kg and UN R137 for vehicles exceeding 2,500 kg but not exceeding 3,500 kg, lateral impact based on UN R95 without the side pole impact test, and rear impact based on UN R153. Vehicles must demonstrate fuel system integrity with no more than slight leakage or continuous leakage not exceeding 30 g/min, hydrogen leakage not exceeding 118 NL per minute, and protection against electrical shock from high-voltage systems. REESS must remain attached and exhibit no fire or explosion within 60 minutes post-crash.

Proposal to insert a new para. 0 introducing supplements 4 and 5 to the 04 series of amendments extending the Regulation to vehicles of categories X and Y, amend para. 1 to modify scope provisions and add R-point clarifications for category X vehicles, amend para. 2.8 to revise the bonnet rear reference line definition including provisions for category Y vehicles without windscreens, amend para. 2.22 to clarify front structure definition for categories X and Y, amend para. 2.29 to specify occupant mass placement for categories X and Y, amend para. 2.32 to define side reference line for category Y vehicles, amend para. 2.44 to redefine windscreen test area for category Y vehicles, and amend para. 2.45 to adjust cowl monitoring area for category Y vehicles.

Proposal to amend para. 6.1.5. to state that sensors, cameras, radar devices, etc. being part of driver assist systems and automated driving systems may become damaged, disoriented or broken due to an impact as long as basic braking and steering performance remain intact. The amendment enables application of UN R42 to vehicles equipped with an Automated Driving System.

International vehicle regulations do not include safety requirements for power-operated components such as doors, tailgates, and seats, with the exception of power-operated windows, sunroofs, and partitions covered by UN R21. Recent incidents involving entrapment hazards demonstrate the need for WP.29 to pay attention to this issue and discuss the enhancement of vehicle regulations from a long-term perspective, including which GRs should amend which regulations.

Proposal to streamline the Regulation by eliminating redundant requirements and their test procedures as well as to clarify the possible alternative methods to improve the efficiency of the tests: Delete paragraphs 6.2. and 6.3., delete paragraph 6.5., delete paragraph 6.10., reserve paragraphs 9A, 9B, and 9E, delete paragraph 6.14., amend paragraph 6.15. to add comprehensive thermal propagation verification procedures including risk management analysis alternatives, add paragraph 6.16. for REESS and vehicle communication compatibility, add new Part III (para. 7.) for approved REESS installation requirements, renumber existing paragraphs 8.–13. as paragraphs 8.–13. and add corresponding section numbering, amend scope provisions to clarify application to vehicles of categories M, N, and O with specified e-axle battery provisions, add vehicle category O definitions including “e-axle” and “trailer load compartment,” amend various paragraphs to reference vehicles of categories O₃ and O₄, amend protection requirements to include trailer load compartments, amend over-discharge and overcharge test procedures to permit sequential execution, amend isolation resistance measurement requirements to exempt measurement when isolation resistance monitoring systems are installed and confirmed functional, clarify SOC adjustment procedures to permit alternative ambient temperatures when highest SOC is achievable independently, add labelling requirements for vehicles of categories M₂/N₂ and M₃/N₃ in accordance with ISO 17840-4:2018, add provisions for Automated Driving System (ADS) features and warnings, add provisions for vehicles of category Y regarding mechanical integrity validation at component level, amend Annex 1 Part 2 to revise installation restriction references, add Annex 9K describing four thermal propagation trigger methods with four appendices, and add Annex 10 specifying label provisions for electric power train vehicles.

Proposal to provide guidance for interpretation of “Type of REESS” (Rechargeable Electrical Energy Storage System) as defined in UN R100 para. 2.48. The document establishes that differences in REESS should be evaluated from the perspective of substantial impact on safety performance. It describes key elements for assessing impact on safety within each essential aspect: manufacturer responsibility, cell chemistry/capacity/physical dimensions, cell number/connection/support, casing construction/materials/dimensions, and ancillary devices. The guidance provides examples of changes not causing or potentially causing significant differences, including production location changes, multi-sourcing of cells, and process improvements.

Italy opposes GRSP-79-05 proposal to delete paragraphs 15.1.2 and 15.1.3 of transitional provisions, which would permit production and marketing of helmets to the earlier 05 series of amendments to UN R22. Italy argues restoring approval for UN R22.05 helmets would set technical requirements back 26 years, disrupt markets with obsolete products, penalize companies investing in UN R22.06 adaptation, and frustrate safety improvements. No appreciable price difference exists between UN R22.05 and UN R22.06 helmets, negating cost justification.

The Equitable Occupant Protection informal working group pursues equitable and enhanced protection of diverse populations through robust, inclusive regulatory solutions addressing rear-end impact soft tissue neck injuries and frontal impact restraint systems. The group extends assessment towards brain injuries, soft tissue neck injuries, and lower extremity injuries with high frequency and risk of permanent medical impairment. Four task forces focus on rear impact seat assessment, virtual crash testing, frontal impact and restraint system requirements, and assessment of currently not considered injury types. Workshops are scheduled for June 29-30 on rear impact assessment, September 7 in Munich on virtual crash testing, and November 4-6 in Tokyo on frontal impact.

Proposal to insert new paragraphs 0.2. and 0.2.1. to clarify the assessment procedure for door opening and permit the use of an external vehicle lift to return a vehicle to its wheels following the side impact test for workshop health and safety compliance, and insert new para. 5.3.3.1.1. to specify that if necessary the vehicle shall be put back on its wheels and paragraphs 5.3.3. and 5.3.3.1. shall apply once in this condition.

Proposal to insert a new paragraph 0.4. explaining that the second level warning of safety-belt reminders is intended to warn if one safety-belt is unfastened during normal driving conditions as specified in paragraph 5.2.4.1., and that other safety warnings may alert the driver to check overall safety of occupants and stop the vehicle, with the second level warning discontinued per paragraphs 5.2.4.3.(a) to (c)©, and amend paragraph 5.2.4.3. to add a new subparagraph (d) allowing discontinuation of the audible signal when other audible safety warnings are triggered in circumstances of imminent danger where the vehicle has to be stopped.