Guidance and interpretation document to facilitate application of GTR 26 and UN R185 on Automated Driving Systems to particular ADS vehicles, provide guidance on evidencing requirements, and harmonize application across manufacturers, authorities and inspection bodies. The document addresses definitions, application for approval, approval procedures, ADS performance of the Dynamic Driving Task in nominal, critical and failure situations, interactions between ADS and users, other ADS requirements, Safety Management System processes, test environment approaches, safety case structure, and post-deployment safety monitoring.

Proposal to establish terms of reference and rules of procedure for the new IWG on EDR, successor to the IWG on EDR/DSSAD. The proposal would mandate the IWG to develop a draft proposal for EDR for automated/autonomous vehicles to be incorporated in UN R160 and UN R169, and to explore future amendments to UN R160 and UN R169 improving usefulness of EDR data, including data survivability during post-crash fires, improved triggering sensitivity, and extension of data elements and data format. The IWG would report to GRSG, reach decisions by consensus, and coordinate with the IWG on ADS2 on matters of common interest.

Proposal to edit paragraphs throughout Part I and Part II, and Annexes 4, 5, and 6 of GTR 26 by applying Oxford English Dictionary spellings consistently in accordance with the United Nations Editorial Manual (changing, for example, ‘organisation’ to ‘organization’, ‘realise’ to ‘realize’, ‘recognise’ to ‘recognize’, ‘authorised’ to ‘authorized’, ‘characterise’ to ‘characterize’, ‘harmonised’ to ‘harmonized’, and ‘optimised’ to ‘optimized’), and by correcting erroneous paragraph number references including in Annex 6 where references to paragraphs 6.3.1.1., 7.3.1.13., 8.3.1.6., 8.3.3.1., and 7.3.1.13. are corrected to 4.3.1.1., 5.3.1.13., 6.3.1.6., 6.3.3.1., and 5.3.1.13. respectively. The modifications are editorial in nature and do not change the substance of the text.

GRVA’s twenty-sixth session reviewed the Informal Working Group on Automated Driving Systems’ progress and adopted revised Terms of Reference for Phase II, establishing the Workshops on ADS implementation with Terms of Reference and Rules of Procedure. GRVA adopted amendments to UN R157 addressing Safety Management System provisions and clarifying requirements for ALKS activation across multiple territories, with supplements to the original version and 01 series of amendments. GRVA adopted amendments to UN R155 and UN R156 concerning software identification and software updates provisions, approved Supplement 4 to UN R155 clarifying its scope, and adopted amendments addressing Approval Authority arrangements for Certificates of Conformity. GRVA adopted amendments to UN R171 aligning continued compliance provisions with UN R157, adopted amendments to UN R79 regarding steering equipment and remote-control parking, adopted amendments to UN R13 and UN R13-H concerning trailer braking systems, and adopted amendments to UN R90 addressing replacement braking parts. GRVA established the Task Force on Exchange of Scenario-Relevant Information with Terms of Reference and Rules of Procedure, discussed automated vehicle categorization and automated parking systems, and reviewed ongoing work on Artificial Intelligence in vehicles, cyber security, data protection, advanced driver assistance systems, and motorcycle braking.

The document presents decisions from GRVA-26 establishing a Workshop on ADS Implementation as a new informal body under GRVA. Candidates for co-chairperson positions are Canada, France, and Japan; candidates for ambassador to IWG ADS2 are China and United Kingdom; candidates for co-secretary are TUV Association and OICA. The Workshop’s main goal is to allow discussions on the practical application of UN Regulation No. 185 and GTR No. 26 through exchange of information, best practices, and interpretations, with deliverables including recommendations to GRVA and amendment proposals for IWG ADS2 consideration.

Report of the Workshop on ADS Implementation’s first meeting held on 15 October 2026. The workshop was established by GRVA to provide a platform for experts to discuss implementation of UN R185 and GTR 26. Co-chairs confirmed as Canada, France, and Japan. Ambassadors to IWG ADS2 designated as China and United Kingdom. Co-secretaries confirmed as TUV Association and OICA. The workshop will cover both 1958 and 1998 agreements and maintain close links with IWG ADS2 and TF ESRI. Participants invited to submit questions and agenda items to the secretariat.

Document identifies technical and drafting issues in UN R157 and its Global Technical Regulation equivalent requiring clarification or correction. Issues include:

• Definition of ‘Critical Occurrence’ using logically inconsistent language,
• Undefined terms like ‘area of operation’,
• Absence of provisions for reactivation after fault clearance,
• Incorrect cross-references between paragraphs,
• Non-standard citations such as ‘ISO 9001 Automotive’,
• Terminology inconsistencies between ‘alternative format’ and ‘alternative data’,
• Unclear assessment pathways for user information requirements,
• Inappropriate use of ‘demonstrate’ by approval authorities,
• Limited confidentiality scope,
• Misaligned section headings,
• Omission of 7.3.3 from safety case references,
• Interaction issues between reportable occurrence thresholds and systemic categories,
• Conflicting damage-area taxonomies between templates,
• Missing template rows,
• Undefined units and computations,
• Delta-V criterion applicability to L-category vehicles,
• Definition inconsistencies regarding vulnerable road user secondary safety systems,
• Out-of-scope self-certification references,
• Unspecified regulatory references for data retrievability,
• Missing remote termination recording,
• Inconsistent British versus American English spelling variants.

Review of the initial set of ADS Phase 2 work items and their integration into an ADS2 IWG plan for 2026-2028.

Calendar of planned meetings and activities for 2027.

NHTSA announced activity to update voluntary guidance on automated driving systems. A Federal Register Notice published July 31, 2026 opened a docket to solicit comment on proposed topics for guidance development. NHTSA intends to release draft guidance documents on individual topics as chapters and consolidate them into a final updated guidance document. The public comment period is scheduled to close July 31, 2027 and may be extended. Potential chapters address Emergency Responder Interactions, Safety Management System, Remote Assistance and Operational Oversight, Safety Case, Adherence to Multi-Jurisdictional Laws, Work Zone Operations, ADS System Capabilities and Behavioral Competencies, Verification and Validation with Advanced Testing Methodologies, Considerations for Driverless Deployment, Crashworthiness, Post-Crash Behavior, Human Machine Interface, Accessible Design, Data Monitoring Capture Reporting and Governance, and Maintenance Fleet Operations Continuous Safety Monitoring and Post-Deployment Enhancement.

Agenda for the 22nd ADS informal working group session and the 20th GRVA Workshop on ADS, held 6-9 October 2026 in Sydney, Australia. Day 1 covers welcome, agenda adoption, status of work, GRVA highlights, Guidance and Interpretation Document, ADS Phase 2 context, and review of Phase 2 programme proposals. Day 2 addresses refinement of Phase 2 tasks, Australia’s proposed framework, allocation of work items, and integration into 2026-2029 strategy. Day 3 includes ADS2 schedule, coordination with other groups, and GTR, UNR, and GID change requests. Day 4 covers next steps and first ADS2 IWG session logistics for December in The Hague.

Safety Performance Indicators (SPIs) are measurable metrics monitoring and evaluating ADS safety in operation, including lagging indicators recording outcomes like crashes and injuries, and leading indicators capturing precursors like near misses and risky behaviours. Research tested time-based and distance-based SPIs on the SHRP2 dataset containing 1402 crashes and 5262 near-crashes, achieving Area Under the Curve values of 0.883 for Distance Headway and 0.832 for Time-to-Collision in distinguishing crashes from normal driving. SPIs support safety cases, in-service monitoring and reporting requirements, and continuous ADS deployment monitoring, with future work extending analysis to additional datasets and field data collection.

Document identifies open questions regarding MRC definition, risk assessment, feature deactivation, and post-MRC obligations. Discusses reasons for MRC including collisions, faults, remote termination, ODD exits, and fallback user transition failures. Addresses post-MRC reporting and data recording under DSSAD and ISMR. Examines feature deactivation following MRC and ODD exit scenarios, with three possible solutions for ADSF-2 post-ODD exit recording.

Proposal to clarify that the ADS must respond to user requests to deactivate, require multimodal signals at the start of and during deactivation procedures that continue until completion or termination, require escalation of warnings for system-initiated deactivations if the user is not re-engaging as expected, require gradual reduction of ADS control action during deactivation while maintaining safe vehicle control, allow the ADS to retake full control if the vehicle is not being controlled safely, terminate the deactivation procedure if the user is not suitably engaged and the time available to transition has expired, replace the requirement for contact with the steering wheel with being in a physical position to operate the driving controls, suspend non-driving related activities at the start of the deactivation procedure, and modify the DDT section to require fallback to an MRC instead of a deactivation procedure if there is insufficient time for transition.

Proposal to modify para. 4.2.2.3.8.1 to add a requirement that a user be in a physical position to operate the driving controls, to allow gaze to be directed to multiple driving task-relevant areas rather than a single area, and to add a requirement that the user have demonstrated an appropriate response to transition of control.

Analysis of terminology related to remote support for automated driving systems, grouping terms into four categories: remote termination, remote fleet management, remote assistance, and remote driving. Remote termination disables ADS features until rescinded. Remote fleet management involves observation without performing the dynamic driving task. Remote assistance provides information while ADS continues the dynamic driving task. Remote driving involves a remote user performing the dynamic driving task. Document proposes agreeing on categories, determining definitions, developing a supplement without new requirements, and potentially developing proposals for new requirements covering ADS performance when expected remote support is not provided and further consideration of remote assistance.

Japan presents a proposed approach to address regulatory provisions for end-to-end (E2E) automated driving systems. E2E technology uses a single AI model to perform the entire driving task from perception to decision-making. While E2E systems offer benefits including flexible responses to traffic situations and reduced deployment costs through lower dependence on high-definition maps, concerns exist regarding their black-box nature, including limited visibility into decision-making processes, challenges with reproducibility, and difficulties with root cause analysis in accident investigations. The proposed approach involves three steps: identifying key issues related to E2E automated driving, discussing and organizing identified issues including possible E2E-specific requirements, and considering concrete amendment of provisions based on conclusions reached.

Document presents candidate amendments for ADS Regulation Phase 2 addressing Safety Management System and in-service monitoring and reporting. Proposes:

• An emergency recovery plan for fleet-level failures,
• Harmonization of SMS audit provisions and certificate mutual recognition,
• Split of operational and design responsibilities between operators and manufacturers,
• Refinement of occurrence classes with objective measurable criteria,
• Delta-V thresholds for all vehicle categories in scope,
• Extended reporting templates,
• Leading safety performance indicators,
• Confidentiality rules for ISMR data sharing,
• Explicit feedback loops from findings to corrective action and approval review.

Overview of activities under the testing sub-group for ADS regulations, covering approval, manufacturer requirements, and compliance assessment. Documents Level 1 and Level 2 requirements across virtual testing, track testing, and real-world testing environments. Identifies items not addressed in original versions, existing items requiring further consideration including safety case suitability testing and evidence generation, improvements identified during drafting GID discussions, and other items not included in previous lists.

Proposal to insert a requirement that at the start of the deactivation procedure, any non-driving related activities provided or enabled by the ADS vehicle that were permitted because an ADS feature is active shall be automatically suspended. The requirement applies only to activities provided or enabled by the ADS vehicle and only to NDRA permitted because an ADS feature is active, not to activities such as listening to music or navigation permitted while an ADS feature is not active.