At its fifty-ninth session, GRSP approved a proposal for the 07 series of amendments to UN R16 to mandate safety belt reminders for all vehicle seats. This proposal aligns provisions in UN R121 with the changes to UN R16:
a) the term “seat belt” is replaced by “safety belt”,
b) the symbol for safety belt, defined in item 21 of Table 1 in the Regulation, may be displayed in different colours to convey different meanings. Therefore, the existing footnote ¹⁸ has been added to item 21, and
c) this symbol may be replaced by different symbols for seats other than those of the front row. Therefore, a new footnote ²² is added to item 21. This proposal does not change any of the technical requirements of UN R121.

Proposal for new safety provisions with regard to LPG systems having hydraulic interconnections with the petrol or diesel fueling system through which inter-flows of fuels may occur.

Proposal to allow for the approval of speedometers and odometers that enable drivers to display figures either in km/h or mph (but not both simultaneously). The proposal also clarifies the application of the provisions across the category L vehicle subcategories.

Proposal to improve and clarify provisions concerning the approval of interior materials, cables and insulation materials. The proposaladds new requirements for cable sleeves and conduits, modifies vertical testing requirements under Annex 8 to allow testing of small test samples and to clarify their fixation to the specimen holder., and adds a new Annex 10 on provisions for testing of electrical cables.

Proposal to allow for the use of natural gas refrigeration systems to vehicles propelled by natural gas (CNG or LNG). This proposal addresses a new, environmentally friendly natural gas fuelled refrigeration system for trucks with refrigerated loads that already are propelled by natural gas. Currently paragraph 18.1.7.1 allows heating systems to be fitted on vehicles to heat the passenger compartment and/or the load area of a vehicle, however, the same provision omits cooling systems that are used on trucks for the carriage of loads requiring refrigeration.

Proposal to add a telltale and symbols for “Accident Emergency Call System (AECS)”.

Proposal to expand the scope of the regulation by deleting paragraph 1.2.2. which allows for the exclusion of “vehicles designed and constructed for special purposes where it is not possible, for practical reasons, to fit lateral protection devices” from the text. The proposal allows Type Approval Authorities to nonetheless exempt “vehicles where any LPD (e.g. fixed, removable, foldable, adjustable, etc.) is incompatible with their on-road use” through the addition of new paragraphs.

Proposal to augment the provisions to address the needs of persons with reduced mobility by improving accommodations for wheelchair users and for persons who are visually and/or hearing impaired.

Proposal to reduce the administrative burden in obtaining approvals for electrical cables according to UN Regulation No. 118. The experts from Finland, France and Germany agreed that the change from ISO 6722:2006 to ISO 6722-2011 does not impact the degree of safety and, therefore, the test reports or approvals established under the older version of the ISO standard shall remain valid.

Proposal to align the requirements for plastic panes other than windscreens with the requirements of plastic pane windscreens. This includes amendments concerning rigid plastic panes, flexible plastic panes and rigid plastic multiple-glazed units. The proposed modifications to this type of glazing are in line with the requirements of Supplement 4 to the 01 series of amendment of UN Regulation No. 43.

Proposal from the AECS informal group for a regulation to enable the approval of Accident Emergency Call Devices (AECD) intended for M1 and N1 vehicles, the approval of M1 and N1 vehicles with regard to the installation of an AECD, and/or the approval of M1and N1 vehicles with regard to their Accident Emergency Call System (AECS) or with regard to the installation of an AECD which has not been separately approved under the regulation.

Proposal to harmonize UN R110 with standard ISO 11439:2013 on high pressure cylinders for the on-board storage of natural gas as a fuel for automotive vehicles.

Corrections to the proposal to augment the provisions to address the needs of persons with reduced mobility by improving accommodations for wheelchair users and for persons who are visually and/or hearing impaired. The corrections include an additional paragraph with requirements for loudspeaker systems.