31. GRB followed with interest a presentation (GRB-49-10) by the expert from Japan regarding a study on approach warning systems for hybrid vehicles in motor mode. The expert from the United States of America stressed that such advanced technology vehicles would have to generate a sound informing pedestrians not only of the presence of a vehicle, but also of its speed, direction and acceleration or deceleration. Such a sound is important for the orientation especially for visually-impaired pedestrians to enable them to make an intelligent judgment about the location of a vehicle, its driving direction and its speed to avoid danger.

GRB-49-10 | A Study on Approach Warning Systems for hybrid vehicle in [electric] motor mode

32. On behalf of SAE, the expert from ISO introduced GRB-49-01 regarding on-going safety and sound investigations conducted by SAE. He added that ISO and SAE would cooperate to develop new test procedures and he volunteered to keep GRB informed about the results of their work.

33. The expert from the United States of America was in favour of taking immediate action within GRB instead of waiting for external research results. GRB endorsed his suggestion to set up an informal group on this subject, subject to the consent by WP.29 at its March 2009 session. GRB invited the expert from the United States of America to prepare the draft Terms of Reference of the informal group, for consideration at the next GRB session in September 2009.

GRB-49-01 | SAE Safety and Sound Investigations