Three new UN Vehicle Regulations
Recently, three new United Nations Vehicle Regulations entered into force.
The aim of the new United Nations Vehicle Regulations is to reduce the number and severity of collisions between vehicles moving off from a stationary position or in reverse manoeuvre at low speed, and pedestrians and cyclists.
The first of them, UN Regulation No. 158 on reversing motion (improving drivers’ awareness of vulnerable road users behind vehicles when reversing) introduces requirements for cars, vans, busses and trucks (vehicles categories M and N) to detect objects behind the vehicle that are at least 80 cm tall and 30 cm wide in an area ranging from 20 cm to 1 meter behind the vehicle. Two main technologies are used: ultra-sonic sensors and rear-view cameras. In the case of cameras, the Regulation establishes the requirement to ensure visibility of the area from 30 cm to 3.5 meters behind the vehicle.
The second, UN Regulation No. 159 on moving off information systems for detection of pedestrians and cyclists requires the activation for buses, coaches and medium and large trucks (vehicles of categories M2, M3, N2 and N3) of a proximity information signal in case pedestrians or cyclists enter the critical blind spot area in front of the vehicle, should the vehicle either be preparing to move off from rest in a straight line or be travelling straight ahead at low speeds up to 10 Km/h. The Regulation also sets a requirement for an additional signal to be given when a collision becomes imminent, e.g. when the vehicle accelerates from rest and the pedestrian or cyclist is located directly in front of the vehicle. The systems must ensure the detection of adult or child-size pedestrians as well as adult-sized cyclists and bicycles.
The new Regulations, developed by the Working Party on General Safety Provisions (GRSG) and adopted by the World Forum for the Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations on 11 November 2020, entered into force on 10 June 2021.
Moreover, on 21 June 2021 the UN Regulation No 160 – Uniform provisions concerning the approval of motor vehicles with regard to the event data recorder was published.
