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.

World Blind Union comments opposing the current provisions of the draft UN Regulation on quiet vehicle minimum sound levels, especially with regard to the effectiveness of the AVAS parameters, inclusion of “pause button”, and absence of stationary (“idling”) vehicle sound requirement.

Presentation of research conducted by the World Blind Union and National Federation of the Blind in the United States to validate the effectiveness of the proposed minimum sound levels for quiet vehicles at 10 and 20 km/h. The researchers concluded that the proposed sounds levels do not add significantly to the detectability of an approaching vehicle by a blind pedestrian and that internal combustion engine vehicles were detected substantially sooner than quiet vehicles equipped with the proposed acoustic vehicle alerting system (AVAS).

Presentation by Dr. Edward C. Bell, Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness, Louisiana Tech University.

Table of potential areas for future GRB work prepared during an informal meeting held in Paris during 2-3 July 2015.

Presentation on China’s international noise standards working group activities and program for future development of vehicle noise and silencing system durability requirements.