Description of an accident wherein a blind person was killed by a truck backing up with its reverse-mode sound signal deactivated and of possible policy responses in Japan.

The EU established Regulation (EU) No 540/2014 concerning vehicle noise in 2014. This regulation includes provisions for acoustic vehicle alerting systems (AVAS) in Annex VIII. This document summarizes Commission objectives and plans with regard to the draft UN Regulation on this same subject.

Proposal to update and clarify the regulation. The proposal refines definitions, removes the “AWD” abbeviation for “audible warning device” to avoid confusion with its more common use for “all wheel drive”, adds T category agricultural vehicles to the scope, modifies some administrative communications, and proposes three-direction acoustic measurements. The proposal also aims to structure the regulation to enable its application to additional sound warning devices not presently regulated at the international level, excluding acoustic vehicle alerting systems (AVAS) which will be subject to a separate regulation on minimum vehicle sound levels.

In response to concerns that approval agencies may not grant manufacturers the additional 1dB for L(wot) on conformity of production tests as changes had been made to Annex 6 of R41-04, GRB issued an interpretation recorded in the report of its 56th session. The proposal formalizes the interpretation as an explicit provision of the regulation.

Proposal to clarify the wording of the 03 series of amendments to UN R51 as adopted by the World Forum in June 2015 (document WP.29/2015/62). The adopted wording could lead to the interpretation that sound levels measured on the left side of the vehicle are to be averaged with levels measured on the right side of the vehicle. The proposed new wording clarifies that the overall sound emission is assessed individually per vehicle side.

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.

Overview of discussions for the future development of vehicle noise regulations prepared by the GRB secretariat.

Further refined version of the proposal (incorporating comments received during the 62nd GRB session) in document GRB/2016/2 intended to update and clarify the regulation. The proposal refines definitions, removes the “AWD” abbeviation for “audible warning device” to avoid confusion with its more common use for “all wheel drive”, adds T category agricultural vehicles to the scope, modifies some administrative communications, and proposes three-direction acoustic measurements. The proposal also aims to structure the regulation to enable its application to additional sound warning devices not presently regulated at the international level, excluding acoustic vehicle alerting systems (AVAS) which will be subject to a separate regulation on minimum vehicle sound levels.

This proposal was made after consultations with OICA in order to provide for consistency in terminology used and to match the drawing in Annex 4 with the modified
provisions. The added word “warning“ is underlined.

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.

UN R51 specifies that conditioning of a silencing system is necessary only in cases where exhaust gases come into contact with silencer fibrous materials. This proposal would apply the same concept in L category noise regulations.

Proposals to modify the draft Supplement 5 to UN R28:

On new para. 14.3.6.: editorial clarification. (The purpose of fixing the height should be restricted for taking measurement in a particular test.)

On para. 6.2.1.1. and para. 6.2.1.3.: Since sound level meters on the market don’t meet the latest standard yet, IMMA proposes to use same IEC standard as in ECE R51.03: IEC 61672-1:2002.

Comments on the draft Supplement 5 to UN R28.

Presentation from CATARC proposing improvements to the test procedures under UN R28.

Proposal to clarify the test procedure by explicitly excluding first gear where possible from the ASEP control range.

Presentation of related ISO activities and prospects for cooperation in the future development of UN R51 ASEP.

Based on the outcomes of a European Commission study, proposal to clarify the text and align its provisions with other vehicle sound regulations, especially UN R41, including to replace references to “two wheeled moped” with the term “L1 category vehicles” (and consequently to replace references to “moped” with “vehicle”) and to replace the term “noise” with “sound” (except for references to background noise) throughout the regulation.