Presentation by NHTSA’s Nha Nguyen on agency strategies for enhancing motorcoach safety: Seat Belts, Stability Control Systems, Rollover Structural Integrity, Emergency Evacuation, Fire Safety, Glazing and Window Retention, Event Data Recorders (EDRs), Tires and Crash Avoidance Systems.

Discussion of the state of accident statistics and other data to support the development of coach and bus safety requirements.

Proposal to define an exemption for handles from “residual/survival space” intrusion requirements for vehicle spaces not intended for occupants. Handles and handholds used to assist passengers in entering and exiting a bus are located outside of passenger seating and standing areas where OICA argues that they do not present a danger; however, the current rollover testing provisions could result in their inclusion in the area defined as “residual/survival space” where any intrusion is prohibited.

Proposal to specify that “handrails and handholds at doorways where the associated residual space is not designated for passengers positioned for travel, and where intrusion into the space presents no risk of contact with passengers, shall also be ignored.”

Proposal to add checks under the current tests:

• damage to seat attachments
• occupant compartment hazards (e.g., risk of impact by loose objects such as fire extinguisher) and
• post-crash functionality of escape hatches (including force required to open)

Proposal to clarify the verification procedures after the strength test. The proposal addresses destruction of seat mounts, injury-causing objects entering the residual space and moving within it, and emergency hatches.

Proposal for additional checks following complete vehicle tests:

1. destruction of seats mounts. The break-off and displacement of seats is not covered by the current Regulation, since they are initially located inside the residual space and their displacement is not assessed;
2. injury-causing objects entering the residual space and moving within it (e.g., if a person is hit by a fire extinguisher or other object when the vehicle overturns, it may cause serious or even fatal injuries).

List of items approved during the remote GRSG July session but subject to confirmation via absence of objections following the session. Under the “silence procedure”, if a Contracting Party expresses dissent, the GRSG approval is nullified.

Proposal from Russian expert to undertake additional checks in terms of passive safety

Clarifies the verifications after the performance of the strength test.

Proposal to allow additional checks in terms of passive safety on the national level (for example, destruction of seats mounts, injury-causing objects entering the residual space and moving within it, operability of the emergency hatches).

Proposal to allow additional checks on passive safety at the national level when conducting tests of a complete vehicle (such as checking for damage to seat mounts, objects presenting injury risks in the residual space, and operability of hatches).

The Russian Federation considers that additional checks of a complete vehicle during rollover tests should be provided within the framework of UN R66 as an option at the national/regional level and requests guidance on whether such flexibility is permissible.