41. GRE recalled that the Global Forum for Road Traffic Safety (WP.1), at its session in March 2023, had adopted ECE/TRANS/WP.1/2017/1/Rev.3 with a set of amendment proposals to the 1968 Convention on Road Traffic, including its annex 5 on lighting and light signalling devices (ECE/TRANS/WP.1/183, paragraph 12). The secretariat informed GRE about the issuance of depositary notification C.N.138.2023 of 9 August 2023, communicating these amendment proposals to all contracting parties. GRE was also briefed about the legal amendment process and timeline as per article 49 of the Convention.

42. In this context, the expert from OICA pointed out a possible inconsistency between annex 5 to the 1968 Convention on Road Traffic and the draft 09 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 48.

43. GRE noted the ongoing WP.1 considerations on the issue of optical and/or audible signals of automated driving system (ADS) vehicles (ECE/TRANS/WP.1/185, paragraph 25). The expert from the United Kingdom pointed out that his country was not in favour of such signals because they could be confusing for other road users.