The UN IWG for Children Left in Vehicles is in Phase 2 developing a new UN Regulation for vehicle categories M₂ and M₃. The draft UN Regulation includes requirements for visual and audible external warnings in buses and coaches to prevent children being left inside. The external warning shall be visual and audible, with the visual warning remaining on for at least 15 seconds then off for no greater than 30 seconds, repeating in cycles lasting no less than 10 minutes, using type approved direction indicator lamps all flashing with the same frequency. The audible warning shall remain on for at least 15 seconds then off for no greater than 30 seconds, repeating in cycles lasting no less than 10 minutes, and shall be greater than 60dB(A). Both warnings shall stop immediately after the physical inspection system is disarmed or the vehicle master control switch is turned on. The IWG intends to permit audible devices approved to UN Regulation No. 28 or UN Regulation No. 165 to generate the external audible warning.

During the 19th session

• OICA commented on LEON-T project reports regarding tyre and powertrain noise contributions.
• The European Environment Agency presented findings on transport noise exposure affecting over 100 million Europeans.
• Norway presented a proposed 95 dB(A) noise limit for stationary vehicles under UN R51.
• France proposed amending UN R28 to introduce soft audible warning devices for M and N category vehicles.
• The task force suspended its cross-matrix activity and postponed discussion of L-category vehicles to the next session.

Results of the review of proposals for UN Regulations R28, R51, R64, R138, R141, R142, and R165 regarding autonomous vehicle readiness. Key findings include: inconsistent Mass in Running Order definitions between R51 and R138 versus RE3; unclear special testing provisions in R64, R138, and R165; need for clarification on ADS optical and logical signal transition in R64; redundant full definitions from RE3 in multiple proposals should reference RE3 via footnote instead; inconsistent ADS activity terminology across R64, R141, and R165 should be standardized; incorrect Category Y references in R51 Table 2; and definition and spelling errors in R51, R138, R141, and R165.

CLIV is developing a new UN Regulation for vehicle categories M1, M2, M3, and N1 in Phase 2. The draft regulation requires visual and audible external warnings upon detection of a child left in a vehicle. Visual warnings use direction indicator lamps flashing in SOS morse code pattern for at least 15 seconds, then off for no more than 30 seconds, repeating for at least 10 minutes. Audible warnings must exceed 60dB(A) following the same timing pattern. The IWG requests guidance on potential amendments to UN R48, UN R28, and UN R165.

Proposal to amend UN R28 to add definitions for “Front plane,” “Automated Driving System (ADS),” “Dynamic Driving Task (DDT),” “Bi-directional vehicle,” and “Forward direction” in new paragraphs 11.3–11.7; add new paragraph 14.1.3 requiring separate sound pressure measurement for each front plane of bi-directional vehicles; amend paragraph 14.3.3 to specify measurement at 7.00±0.10 m from the front plane; and amend footnote 1 to paragraph 1 to reference ECE/TRANS/WP.29/78/Rev.8.