Presentation on Japanese vehicle noise activities, including alignment with UN Regulations and subsequent abolition of certain current Japanese regulatory requirements (e.g. cruising noise, etc.).

Presentation of Japan’s plans for phasing in UN R41, UN R51 (Phase 2, but not Phase 3 limits), and UN R117 requirements.

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 mixed by calculation with sound 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.

ETRTO comments raising concerns over the validity of the Dutch dataset used to support the proposal for higher tyre-noise stringency.

Presentation on low-noise pavements and the PERSUADE (PoroElastic Road
SUrface for Avoiding Damage to the Environment) project.

Presentation in support of the proposal to increase the stringency of tyre noise limits from 1 November 2020.

At the GRB meeting in January 2015 the Netherlands introduced a justification and proposal for future tyre noise limits (document GRB-61-03). During the discussion, it was suggested to investigate whether difference in performance existed between Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) tyres and replacement tyres, noting that the transitional provisions in EC/661/2009 take into account the earlier introduction of noise limits of OEM tyres mounted on new vehicle types. Therefore, the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment asked M+P to investigate the statistics of tyre noise label values in OEM tyres in more detail.

Proposal to increase the stringency of tyre noise limits from 1 November 2020.

Presentation by Dr. Edward C. Bell, Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness, Louisiana Tech University.

Presentation supporting documents GRRF/2015/25, /29, and /32 proposing to:
a) Align definitions and content of UN tyre regulations;
b) Include a definition of “manufacturer” extracted from the resolution “R.E.3”;
c) Adopt a common definition and use of the terms “Manufacturer’s name”, “Brand name”, “Trademark”, “Trade description” and “Commercial name” and their links; and
d) Add information in the certificate to enable approval authorities to more easily understand the products the certificate addresses.

Paper describing the development and application of a method for determining benefits of tyre noise reduction efforts in terms of the number of people impacted.

Document GRRF/2015/27 proposes to modify the marking requirements to replace PSI with kilopascals (“kPa”). The intent is to harmonize the pressure indication and avoid confusion between UN Regulation No. 54 and US FMVSS 119 or FMVSS 139. This proposal would allow for the use of kPa markings in place of PSI prior to the 1 January 2018 transition date.

Presentation on the Dutch-developed methodology for assessing the impact of changes to tyre and vehicle noise standards.

Presentation of research conducted by the World Blind Union and National Federation of the Blind in the United States to validate the effectiveness of the proposed minimum sound levels for quiet vehicles at 10 and 20 km/h. The researchers concluded that the proposed sounds levels do not add significantly to the detectability of an approaching vehicle by a blind pedestrian and that internal combustion engine vehicles were detected substantially sooner than quiet vehicles equipped with the proposed acoustic vehicle alerting system (AVAS).

World Blind Union comments opposing the current provisions of the draft UN Regulation on quiet vehicle minimum sound levels, especially with regard to the effectiveness of the AVAS parameters, inclusion of “pause button”, and absence of stationary (“idling”) vehicle sound requirement.

Proposal to:
a) Align definitions and content with the other tyre regulations (UN Regulations Nos. 30, 54, 75 etc.);
b) Include a definition of “manufacturer” extracted from the resolution “R.E.3”;
c) Adopt a common definition and use of the terms “Manufacturer’s name”, “Brand name”, “Trademark”, “Trade description” and “Commercial name” and their links; and
d) Add information in the certificate to enable approval authorities to more easily understand the products the certificate addresses.

Proposal to modify the marking requirements to replace PSI with kilopascals (“kPa”). The intent is to harmonize the pressure indication and avoid confusion between UN Regulation No. 54 and US FMVSS 119 or FMVSS 139. The proposal would also change the measurement units for drum speed from min^-1 to km.h^-1 in alignment with the requirements with other tyre regulations and align the wording in Annex 7, Appendix 1 with the text of the Regulation.

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.

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.

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.