Proposal to expand the scope of the regulation by deleting paragraph 1.2.2. which allows for the exclusion of “vehicles designed and constructed for special purposes where it is not possible, for practical reasons, to fit lateral protection devices” from the text. The proposal allows Type Approval Authorities to nonetheless exempt “vehicles where any LPD (e.g. fixed, removable, foldable, adjustable, etc.) is incompatible with their on-road use” through the addition of new paragraphs.

Proposal to amend geometrical criteria (dimensions and distances between lateral protection devices) and installation provisions for lateral protection barriers in order to improve their performance with regard to vulnerable road users. The proposal would

1. increase the maximum distance between lateral rails from 300 mm to 400 mm
2. redefine the limits for the lower edge from “550 mm above the ground” to definition via an isosceles triangle formed by lines drawn at 8° from the ground contact points of the vehicle tires intersecting at point “I” above the road surface where the maximum limit “I” is between 350-450 mm
3. define the upper edge as from 450 mm rather than 300 mm maximum from the vehicle structure or maximum height of the upper edge above the ground from 950 mm to 850 mm
4. update the horizontal static force requirement for lateral protection devices to 3 kN and the deflection under load criteria to 90 mm over the rearmost 250 mm of the device and 450 mm over the remainder of the device.

44. Recalling the discussion of GRSG at its previous meetings, the expert from France stated that more time was needed to find an agreement on the proposal to improve the performance level of LPD for a better protection of vulnerable road users (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSG/2018/18). GRSG agreed to defer the discussion on this subject to its next session.

43. The expert from France informed GRSG that the proposal to improve the performance level of lateral protection devices for a better protection of vulnerable road users was in progress and that more time was needed for investigations. GRSG agreed to remove, in the meantime, the item from the agenda of the next session.

Proposal to clarify the positioning of lateral protection devices on central axle trailers.