The 78th session of the GRE Informal Working Group on Simplification of UN Lighting and Light-Signalling Regulations was held in Brussels, 10-12 June 2026. SLR decided not to include a new Part 7 on Colour-fastness in Annex 6 to Regulation 150-01 and will submit a consolidated correction proposal to GRE-95. Discussion on apparent surface definitions and single lamp distance requirements will resume at SLR-79, with wider consideration of related topics including glare and direction indicator visibility. Baseline documents for Regulations 48, 53, 74, and 86 were reviewed and updated versions will be prepared for the next session. The next SLR meeting will be held in Tokyo on 7-11 September 2026.

This baseline draft for UN R48 (10 series of amendments) establishes uniform provisions for vehicle lighting and light-signalling device installation. The document reflects all modifications agreed at GRE-94 and incorporates an updated proposal from IEC regarding technological neutrality for LS devices. Key additions include provisions for work lamps to be included after formal WP.29 adoption in June 2026, updated tables for positioning and geometric visibility angles (Annexes 18–19), and revised terminology replacing “dipped-beam/main-beam” with “passing-beam/driving-beam” throughout. Open points address apparent surface visibility against stop lamps and consistency with IWVTA transitional provisions, with transitional provisions for the 10 series specifying acceptance dates and phase-in periods to be finalized.

The document addresses simplification of the definition of “apparent surface” and single lamp distance requirements in UN R48. It presents a new CAD-based concept defining apparent surface using light emitting surface with clear outer lens disregarded. The document notes that current regulation allows multiple ways to define apparent surface resulting in different distances, with existing approvals having distances significantly larger than 75mm between distinct parts without known safety issues. GTB agrees on simplifying the apparent surface definition to describe function contours as seen by road users, while acknowledging this should not restrict possible designs. The document references a 1999 INF Milano study concluding symmetric appearance is relevant for vehicle identification and larger distances are acceptable for symmetric compared to asymmetric constellations.