Regarding buses and coaches scope, delegates supported defining school buses as Special Purpose Vehicles, enabling inclusion without creating a harmonized international category. Comments are due by 14 August. The draft light vehicle UN Regulation was uploaded for review with comments due before or during the September in-person meeting in France. An in-person meeting is scheduled for September 2026.

The Children Left in Vehicles Informal Working Group holds its 19th session on 23 July 2026 from 17:00 to 19:00 Australian Eastern Standard Time online. The agenda includes feedback on drafting a UNR for light vehicles and consideration of a September face-to-face meeting in Paris.

The UN IWG for Children Left in Vehicles is in Phase 2 developing a new UN Regulation for vehicle categories M₂ and M₃. The draft UN Regulation includes requirements for visual and audible external warnings in buses and coaches to prevent children being left inside. The external warning shall be visual and audible, with the visual warning remaining on for at least 15 seconds then off for no greater than 30 seconds, repeating in cycles lasting no less than 10 minutes, using type approved direction indicator lamps all flashing with the same frequency. The audible warning shall remain on for at least 15 seconds then off for no greater than 30 seconds, repeating in cycles lasting no less than 10 minutes, and shall be greater than 60dB(A). Both warnings shall stop immediately after the physical inspection system is disarmed or the vehicle master control switch is turned on. The IWG intends to permit audible devices approved to UN Regulation No. 28 or UN Regulation No. 165 to generate the external audible warning.

Proposal to establish uniform provisions concerning the approval of M₂ and M₃ vehicles to assist in the prevention of children being left inside.

This regulation applies to Special Purpose Vehicles of Categories M₂ and M₃, class B and III designed specifically for the carriage of children. Vehicles shall be equipped with a physical inspection system engaged when the vehicle master control switch is turned off and disarmed via an inspection confirmation device located behind the rearmost passenger seat. An external visual and audible warning must be generated within 3 minutes for buses not exceeding 22 passenger seats, or within 5 minutes for buses exceeding 22 passenger seats, if the system is not disarmed. The visual warning shall remain on for at least 15 seconds, then remain off for no greater than 30 seconds, repeating in cycles lasting no less than 10 minutes. The audible warning shall be greater than 60 dB(A) with the same cycle requirements. Conformity of production procedures shall comply with Schedule 1 E/ECE/TRANS/505/Rev.3, with suitable controls checking dimensions and quality procedures.

UTAC is an automotive test and development center located in Linas-Montlhry, approximately 30 minutes from Paris Orly Airport. The organization operates multiple proving grounds globally, including facilities in Mortefontaine, Millbrook, Finland, and Oued Zem, with over 70 kilometers of test tracks across locations. UTAC provides event and training spaces, including a main modular venue called Le 1924 and a VIP Motul meeting room, alongside specialized testing capabilities for autonomous vehicles, connected vehicles, and electric vehicle development.