The 19th Automated Driving Systems session in Shanghai (February 2026) involved approximately 90 participants from multiple countries and organizations. Key outcomes included adoption of amendments to UNR and GTR on ADS, addressing EDR/DSSAD definitions and recording intervals, and reviewing Guidance and Interpretation Document sections covering introduction, DDT performance, audit, user interaction, approval, FADS, safety case, testing, and ISMR. Outstanding items for resolution include remote assistance prioritization and future work program definition. Amendments will be submitted to WP.29 in June 2026. Future meetings scheduled for April-May in Bangkok and July in Brussels.

The 20th ADS informal working group session and 17th GRVA Workshop on Automated Driving Systems will meet during 27 April-1 May 2026. The session will address proposals to amend the draft Guidance and Interpretation Document covering definitions, performance of the DDT, scope, application for approval, general requirements, interactions between the ADS and its user(s), safety management systems, post-deployment safety, test environments, and certificate of compliance. Additional agenda items include further development of the GTR and UNR and consideration of next steps and future meetings.

This document consolidates inputs from Officers of Principal Interest (OPI) on the Automated Driving Systems (ADS) Guidance and Interpretation Document and organizes content into regulatory text, guidance, comments, and examples to facilitate April-May 2026 Workshop discussions. The document provides interpretation of UN Global Technical Regulation and UN Regulation requirements on ADS, addressing safety performance of the Dynamic Driving Task in nominal, critical, and failure situations; interactions between ADS and users; post-deployment safety monitoring through Safety Performance Indicators; Safety Management System audit criteria; and simulation credibility frameworks for verification and validation, while emphasizing that guidance does not introduce new requirements and that the Regulations remain the sole authoritative texts under 1958 and 1998 Agreements.

Proposal to amend ADS-20-12 (consolidated guidance document). The terms faults, malfunctions, and abnormalities lack distinct meanings in requirement 6.1.4.2. The revised explanation clarifies that “faults, malfunctions, and abnormalities” do not have specific distinct meanings and cover any failure in the ADS’ capability to perform the DDT within the ODD. The three kinds of issues encompassed are warning signals from other systems, faults without warning signals a driver would perceive, and faults within the ADS itself.

Proposal to amend ADS-20-12 (consolidated guidance document). The ADS shall have strategies to detect and respond to instructions from road safety agents. For ADSF-1, this allows transfer of control to the fallback user. Manufacturers may use non-ADS strategies including remote intervention or permitting the road safety agent to drive. Examples of instructions include pull over, give way, stop after collision, move out of way, avoid specific road, and not overtake. Instructions may be issued via lights, sirens, audio messages, written signs, or light bar messages.

Proposal to amend WP.29-198-07. Paragraph 5.3.2. is amended to specify that the “Condition for requirement” field for visual images in the time-series data table during a triggering event is set to “Mandatory,” with a recording interval of -7 to +7 seconds relative to the triggering event. The EDR/DSSAD-IWG has agreed to this modification to complete the blank field in the original document.

Proposal to amend WP.29-198-09. The proposal modifies paragraph 5.3.2 to specify that visual images are mandatory data elements to be recorded during a triggering event, with a recording interval of minus 7 to plus 7 seconds relative to the triggering event. The EDR/DSSAD-IWG has agreed to set the condition for requirement field to “Mandatory” in the visual image table.

Proposals for a new GTR and UNR pending before WP.29 in June are based on texts approved by GRVA in January plus text in brackets from EDR/DSSAD and ADS IWG February sessions (presented to WP.29 in WP.29-198-07 and WP.29-198-09). The IWG must send a proposal to GRVA to remove brackets. OPI materials (ADS-20-03 to ADS-20-11) have been consolidated into ADS-20-12/Rev.2 for review to inform structuring of the Guidance and Interpretation Document on ADS. Session discussions address harmonization, compliance, and preparation for July submission.

Proposal to revise the explanation for para. 6.1.2.1. of the ADS UN Regulation. The revision clarifies that where collisions involving the ADS occur during the approval process, including manufacturer’s on-road testing or confirmatory testing, a root cause analysis must be done and an explanation provided. Where the ADS is determined to have played a role in causation, the manufacturer will provide evidence of how related causal factors have been addressed in the final ADS prior to approval. Post-deployment collisions are covered by the ISMR process as implemented within national law.

Proposal to revise the explanation for para. 8.3.3.1 to clarify the relationship between assessment of the manufacturer’s testing under 8.3.2 and confirmatory testing. The revision adds language specifying that during assessment, the assessor can determine the need for additional scenarios or variations and shall convey this information to the manufacturer requesting additional test evidence under agreed upon protocols. The revision changes “trustworthy” to “accurate” and specifies that confirmatory testing verifies the accuracy of the manufacturer’s testing, with the exception of real-world testing that cannot be precisely replicated.

The Informal Working Group on Automated Driving Systems identified topics for future consideration organized into four lists: items not addressed in original versions of the GTR/UNR; existing items requiring amendment or improvement; items relating to operational implementation; and other items. List 1 includes remote assistance, ODD description taxonomy, external human-machine interface provisions, and connectivity considerations. List 2 includes ADS to ADAS transitions, Data Storage Systems for Automated Driving, ADS deactivation, in-service monitoring and reporting, and safety case requirements. List 3 addresses interpretation document improvements, mutual recognition provisions review, system updates and thresholds, and practical implementation of in-service monitoring. List 4 includes text streamlining to remove duplication and improve clarity.