The 15th meeting of the UN GRSP IWG Equitable Occupant Protection was held on March 24, 2026, with 35 online participants. The agenda and minutes of the 14th meeting were approved. Two informal documents, GRSP-78-07 and GRSP-78-08, were presented to GRSP 78 and discussed. Three operational Task Forces on rear-end assessment, virtual crash testing, and frontal impact and restraint systems were reviewed. Each Task Force is invited to structure identified topics by prioritizing them and assigning a short, medium, or long-term horizon, and to map contributions within the Task Force clarifying roles and areas of expertise. The 16th IWG online meeting is scheduled for May 18, 10–12 CEST.

The IWG chair reviewed the 15th meeting to address strategic goals of equitable and overall enhanced protection of diverse populations in rear-end and frontal impacts, based on feedback from GRSP-78-07 and GRSP-78-08. Task forces are investigating submarining prevention, abdominal injury risks, Diffuse Axonal Injuries, lower extremity injuries, and neck injuries in frontal crashes, while considering occupants of different sizes, weights, shapes, and seat adjustments. Priorities include developing broader protection procedures over a range of scenarios and speeds rather than specific repeated requirements, with next steps involving prioritization and role definition within task forces before reporting to GRSP 79.