DSSAD data, whether stored on or off the vehicle, shall be readily available and retrievable through an electronic communication interface that complies with a publicly available standard, with internationally recognized standards recommended to promote interoperability. Data elements concerning activation and deactivation of the feature shall be available via the vehicle’s information display or user interface where controls related to manual performance of the DDT are provided, with access to timestamps subject to restrictions ensuring compliance with data protection requirements.

The Informal Working Group on Automated Driving Systems identified topics for future consideration, categorised into four lists: items not addressed within original versions of the GTR/UNR; existing items requiring amendment or improvement; items relating to operational implementation; and other items. List 1 includes consistent Operational Design Domain description, external Human-Machine Interface provisions, and connectivity considerations. List 2 includes remote assistance, ADS to ADAS transitions, Data Storage Systems for Automated Driving, deactivation processes, and In-Service Monitoring and Reporting. List 3 addresses improvements from drafting interpretation documents, road safety agents, mutual recognition provisions, system updates, and Separate Technical Unit approval. List 4 addresses text streamlining. A Guidance and Interpretation Document is expected. Appendix 1 provides a work schedule beyond June 2026.

Proposal to consider an official title for the GID. The original title “ADS Regulations Guidance and Interpretation Document” was for the baseline document used during the session in Bangkok. This title is not suitable for the official document intended for adoption by WP.29. The revised title is “UN Global Technical Regulation No. 26 and UN Regulation No. 185 Guidance and Interpretation Document,” reflecting the ADS regulations adopted by WP.29 with the expected numbers GTR 26 and UN R185.

The 22nd ADS IWG session will be held in central Sydney, Australia, from 6-9 October. The meeting facility will be confirmed soon.

Proposal to clarify guidance on reporting uncompleted system-initiated deactivations by deleting “i.e.” and “the user has not properly taken over control of the”, inserting “is left to the user,” after “vehicle control”, inserting “An” before “ADS”, inserting “feature” after “ADS”, inserting “, or” after the clause on driving responsibility, and inserting “The user is not properly re-engaged as defined paragraph 4.2/6.2 of the regulation.” as an additional reporting criterion.

Proposal to clarify reporting of vehicle approval numbers by inserting “(if applicable)” after “national or supra-national regulatory frameworks” in the vehicle approval number section of GTR Annex 2/UNR Annex 4. The insertion indicates that the vehicle approval number does not apply in all jurisdictions.

Proposal to modify the ADS guidance and interpretation document to replace references to “The ADS” with “An ADS feature,” replace “activates accepts activation” with “activates,” replace “violation” with “failure to meet the ODD conditions,” change “the” to “an” before “ADS feature,” and add “or” between the second and third bullet points under ADS operation outside its ODD. These changes reflect the outcome of OPI subgroup meetings where stakeholders achieved a compromise solution on open items.

Proposal to revise the explanation of para; 8.1.7.1.(b) to explain that safety assurance includes the organization and also other involved parties.

Proposal to delete "This provision ensures that " and insert “This element focuses on” before “changes”, delete “systematically”, and insert "that " after “changes” in para. 8.1.7.1.(c) to improve and streamline the text so that the description reads “This element focuses on changes that are assessed and managed, recognizing that modifications can introduce new risks.”

Proposal to delete “The intention is to ensure that”, delete “organizations have”, insert “This element focuses on”, insert “the”, and insert “organization’s” in para. 8.1.7.1.(d) to improve and streamline the text, changing “The intention is to ensure that organizations have processes to identify, implement, and track corrective actions to maintain safety at an acceptable level” to “This element focuses on the organization’s processes to identify, implement, and track corrective actions to maintain safety at an acceptable level.”

Proposal to delete “This clarifies that corrective” and replace with “Corrective”, and delete “/systemic” in para. 8.1.7.1.(e). The revised text states: Corrective actions may address both technical aspects (ADS) and organizational aspects (SMS).

Proposal to amend para. 8.1.7.1.(f) to replace “ensures” with “focuses on” in the element text describing performance monitoring practices to track safety outcomes over time.

Proposal to amend para. 8.1.8.1.(a) to delete the provision that staff have the necessary knowledge and skills to perform their safety-related responsibilities and insert text stating that this point focuses on management of qualification and experience for roles responsible for making decisions that affect safety so there is appropriate level of competence to perform their duties.

Proposal to remove brackets around GB/T 34590 Road vehicles – Functional safety and GB/T 43267 Road vehicles – Safety of the intended functionality in para. 8.1.5.1. References for Implementation. The approval authority or its designated technical service shall verify that the safety policy covers definition of principles and objectives, general recognition of inherent risks of ADS-related activities throughout their life cycle, organisational structure and safety governance elements, evidence of commitment to safety, and description of means/approaches to engage people within the organisation in the culture of safety.

Proposal to revise para. 8.1.7.1.(g) to delete “Monitoring is expected to cover both the ADS and the SMS, ensuring a comprehensive view of safety performance.” and insert “Monitoring practices include the monitoring of the ADS product (i.e., using SPIs) and evaluation of the Safety Management System so that it remains effective (i.e., using KPIs).”

Proposal to modify the safety risk management definition by replacing “the core” with “an”, changing “that supports” to “described in”, deleting “and the intended results of the Organization, as well as the effectiveness of other organizational processes”, capitalizing “Organization” to “organization”, and removing the comma after “Organization”. The term safety risk management restricts itself to the management of safety risks without consideration of factors such as financial, legal, economic, or reputational risks.

Proposal to replace text explaining that the ADS IWG did not reach consensus on definitions with clarification that remote intervention and remote interaction were not intended to convey different meanings in the regulation, both covering cases where the ADS requires support for tactical functions while continuing to perform the entire dynamic driving task, note that this aspect of ADS is a developing area, and include references to SAE J3016-2021, EU 2022/1426, the Automated Vehicle Safety Consortium Best Practice for ADS Remote Assistance Use Case (Nov. 27, 2023), and the upcoming ISO/PAS 26361 standard.

Proposal to improve the interpretation of para. 8.1.6.1.(b) concerning verification that the risk-management activity is not limited to the ADS itself but includes risk arising from organisation/people which can affect the SMS effectiveness or the safety of the ADS.

Proposal to improve the list of examples of risk-management practices to support para. 8.1.6.1.

Proposal to improve the interpretation of para. 8.1.6.1.(d) concerning verification that the risk management activity covers and is performed over the entire lifecycle.

Proposal to improve the interpretation of para. 8.1.6.1.© concerning verification that the risk management activity includes risks from third parties.

Proposal to improve the interpretation of para. 8.1.6.1.(a) concerning verification that reactive and proactive practices for risk management are in place.

Proposal to modify para. 8.1.7.1.(h) to replace “aims to ensure that” with “focuses on”, replace “Assessment of how organizations coordinate” with “Assessment that organizations coordinate”, delete “and product reviews” from the list of change management triggers, and delete “the approach and output from various” before “monitoring procedures” and delete “including operational data, safety reports and performance indicator” from the examples of monitoring procedures.

Proposal to amend the interpretation of para. 8.1.5.1.(d) to replace “a key” with “an”, delete “effective”, and insert “processes” before “of the SMS”. The proposal streamlines guidance text on SMS safety policy to improve clarity in describing how safety policy demonstrates management commitment to safety through approval by the accountable executive and supports promotion of safety and continuous improvement of the SMS.

Proposal to improve guidance on para. 8.1.8.1. which focuses on aspects that support safety and safety culture such as people, competencies, and communication.