Proposal for the establishment of a new UN Regulation governing the approval of audible vehicle alerting systems for quiet vehicles moving at low speeds. This proposal can be considered as the first phase of the regulation. In response to concerns raised by the World Blind Union, GRB agreed to extend the mandate of the informal working group that developed this text in order to consider further measures to address the WBU concerns.

Discussion slides from the February 2016 REG58-QRTV informal group session.

Working draft proposal for the extension of the REG58-QRTV informal group mandate in order to address concerns raised by the World Blind Union regarding the draft UN Regulation. The current draft will be considered for adoption at the March 2016 World Forum session (document WP.29/2016/26); however, the WBU raised objections regarding the inclusion of a driver-operated pause switch and absence of a sound to signal when a vehicle is active, but stationary (i.e., in an operative mode at standstill) as well as concerns over the audibility of the proposed sound levels. The GRB has agreed that the informal group further consider and address these concerns.

While encouraged by the adoption of a uniform minimum sound alert standard, the WBU continues to believe that: 1) the proposed minimum sound standard is too low for safety; 2) the AVAS should remain on while the QRTV is active but stationary; and 3) the regulation should prohibit manufacturers from providing a means of pausing the alert sound.

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 clarify the regulation with regard to propulsion of the vehicle (replace the term “travel”), definition of the “pause function” (including taking into account the Japanese proposal to prohibit the use of a pause function), and provisions for deactivating AVAS coding in accordance with local market requirements and under conditions outside the scope of the regulation.

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.