Proposal to revise guidance text in para. 8.1.6.1.(d) to delete the statement that the intention is to ensure safety promotion contributes to ongoing learning and improvement, reinforcing the adaptive nature of the SMS, and insert revised text stating that this point focuses on continued evaluation contributing to ongoing learning so that the SMS remains effective, allowing an adaptive nature through modification and adaptation supported by safety recordkeeping.

Proposal to add resources providing guidance on Safety Performance Indicators. The added resources include J3237, Dynamic Driving Task Assessment (DA) Metrics for Automated Driving Systems; AVSC00006202103, Automated Vehicle Safety Consortium (2021) Best Practice for Metrics and Methods for Assessing Safety Performance of Automated Driving Systems (ADS); AVSC00008202111, Automated Vehicle Safety Consortium (2021) AVSC Best Practice for Evaluation of Behavioural Competencies for ADS-Dedicated Vehicles (ADS-DVs); SAE J2944, Operational Definitions of Driving Performance Measures and Statistics; and SAE J3197, Automated Driving System Data Logger.

Based on ADS-21-68/Rev.1, amend para. 3.2.3.(b) to clarify that the regulation requires the safety level of ADS to be at least to the level of a competent and careful human driver as a general concept and technology-neutral comparator, that manufacturers should explain how they determine and apply this concept accounting for national specificities including those that might arise in relevant cases, that different approaches or combinations of approaches may be used varying depending on the safety concept, claims and argument structure, and approach to safety assessment, that no single approach is presumed better, that manufacturers may use more than one approach, that driver population reference data sets should be subject to appropriate selection, processing and interpretation, and to provide non-exhaustive examples of reference driver based approaches and behaviour-based approaches.

Proposal to revise the guidance text in para. 8.1.8.1.(c) by deleting “This element ensures the existence of effective communication channels, both internally and externally, to support awareness and information sharing.” and inserting “This point focuses on the existence of communication channels, both internal and external, to support awareness and information sharing.” The proposal follows comments received in the 18th ADS Workshop where discussion of the SMS section in a dedicated small drafting group was requested, and the current text aims at streamlining the text.

Proposal to delete the requirement that competence is expected to be actively developed and maintained through structured training and insert that this point focuses on the existence and maintenance of SMS training plans to support competence for the SMS management in para. 8.1.6.1.(b).

Proposal to improve the interpretation of para. 8.1.5.1.(e) the description of the means/approaches to engage people within the organisation in the culture of safety.

Proposal to improve the interpretation of para. 8.1.5.1.(c) concerning the organizational structure and the safety governance elements and their appropriateness for the needs of the organisation.

Proposal to improve the interpretation of para. 8.1.5.1.(b) concerning the general recognition of the inherent risks of ADS-related activities throughout their life cycle, including the risks of the parties involved.

Proposal to improve the interpretation of para. 8.1.5.1.(a) concerning the definition of the principles and objectives upon which the SMS is built, operated, and maintained.

Proposal to improve the interpretation of para. 8.1.5.1. concerning the scope and contents of the manufacturer’s SMS safety policy.

Proposal to add a new example and update text based on discussions by the OPI group aimed at finalizing the GID. The revised text adds that the ADS does not transit to a safe state in accordance with the manufacturers defined response as documented in the safety case, and removes provisions regarding the chosen stop location. The group agreed to further work in the next phase on situations where the chosen stop location could have contributed to a collision involving the ADS vehicle before it has moved from that location.

Wrap-up of the 21st ADS IWG and 19th GRVA Workshop on ADS Brussels session held 14-17 July 2026. The session discussed and accepted numerous proposals to amend the Guidance Implementation Document (GID) for GTR 26/UNR 185, including modifications to introductory text, safety risk management requirements, reporting provisions for various operational issues, and safety management system guidance. The session also discussed activities for ADS IWG Phase 2 (2026–2029), including remote assistance, ODD description, external HMI, feature activation and deactivation, connectivity, software parameter adaptation, ADS/ADAS transition, DSSAD, ISMR, leading metrics, safety case, text improvement, implementation, system updates, MRC, priority vehicles, STU, and end-to-end technologies.