Description of an accident wherein a blind person was killed by a truck backing up with its reverse-mode sound signal deactivated and of possible policy responses in Japan.

Proposal for a 01 series of amendments to the new UN Regulation on quiet road transport vehicles to prohibit the use of a pause function for the alert sound.

Proposal to prohibit the use of a pause function for the acoustic vehicle alert system.

Proposal to refine the scope by replacing the phrase “can travel” by “can be propelled”. The use of “travel” in the scope can be interpreted to include vehicles using using electrical systems for purposes other than propulsion (e.g., energy recuperation) that fall outside the test conditions of UN R138. The proposal further amends:

1. Paragraph 2.7. to make clear the “pause function” refers to systems that allow the driver to deactivate an AVAS system;
2. Paragraph 6.2.6.: The vehicle operator shall not deactivate AVAS while driving. However, the manufacturer shall be enabled to activate or deactivate AVAS, including automatically, by regional coding according to legal provisions of various markets.
3. Paragraph 11.: the transitional provisions were added according to the rules of WP.29 for new series of amendments. Paragraph 11.6. has been added to maintain approvals that also comply with the new series of amendments, as is the case for vehicles that do not have a pause function according to the newly suggested paragraph 6.2.6.
4. Annex 1, Addendum to the communication form No …, Technical Information: technical information regarding “Pause switch (yes/no)” will be no longer necessary.

Proposal to clarify that the maximum sound pressure requirement at the front plane at standstill condition in reverse shall be equal to the maximum level requirement in motion (defined by the QRTV task force as 75 dB(A) for both standstill and reverse driving).

Presentation to support ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRBP/2024/20