Proposal to amend the paragraph concerning the modification of a vehicle type and extension or modification of approval.

Incident reports confirm that occupants of exposed seats have been thrown forward during heavy braking or vehicle impact conditions, often sustaining head injuries from contact with the vehicle floor or other hard structure. Seats particularly affected are those located immediately to the rear of an open wheelchair or buggy space. This proposal aims to reduce this risk by extending existing requirements for exposed seats adjacent to step wells to apply to other exposed seats where there is a risk of the occupant being thrown forward.

UN Regulations Nos. 58 and 73 contain exemptions which can be applied by an approval authority and we are concerned that a vehicle which is correctly approved using such an exemption cannot then be required to have an RUPD or sideguards. The UK seeks the views of GRSG on how the wording of the exemptions may be improved to ensure that as many vehicles as possible are fitted with RUPD and sideguards.

An accident occurred where an N1 security vehicle fatally injured a child who was crossing the entrance to a supermarket car park. The vehicle had been modified from the original specification of the manufacturer by the removal of the side windows and the fitting of plastic glazing on both sides of the driver’s cab area, and a frame of strengthening material fitted to the replacement glazing. This reduced the side vision for the driver of the vehicle. Since UN R125 applies to M1 vehicles, the UK seeks guidance from GRSG on the application of UN R125 provisions to N1 vehicles.

In the framework of the International Whole Vehicle Type Approval (IWVTA) discussion, it was agreed to split Regulation No. 13-H into three distinct Regulations: on Braking, on Brake Assist Systems (BAS) and on Electronic Stability Control (ESC). In order to complete this task and to ease the implementation work of Contracting Parties relying on the existing text of the Regulation to mandate BAS or ESC, new transitional provisions are proposed.

Incident reports confirm that occupants of exposed seats have been thrown forward during heavy braking or vehicle impact conditions, often sustaining head injuries from contact with the vehicle floor or other hard structure. Seats particularly affected are those located immediately to the rear of an open wheelchair or buggy space. This proposal aims to reduce this risk by extending existing requirements for exposed seats adjacent to step wells to apply to other exposed seats where there is a risk of the occupant being thrown forward.

Proposal to delete 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 UK submits that paragraphs 13 and 16 provide specific provisions that address this situation whereas the exclusion clause allows for a broader interpretation that unnecessarily limits the use of lateral protection devices.

Comments from the UK proposing new text for the 1997 Agreement on Periodical Technical Inspections for consideration at the 2nd PTI informal group session.

UK comments on UN Rule No. 1 for discussion during the 2nd PTI informal group session.

Proposal for revised transitional provisions under the regulation.