At the meeting held from January 19 to 23, the Working Group of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) approved the regulation that establishes uniform safety requirements and testing methods for vehicles equipped with automated driving systems (ADS).
As noted by UNECE Executive Secretary Tatiana Molchan, the completion of the project underscores the importance of global regulatory platforms developed with the support of the UN. The harmonization of rules created within the framework of UNECE is essential to prevent the fragmentation of national standards and to stimulate innovation and safety in the automotive industry.
According to the chair of the working group, Richard Damm, safety, innovation, and public trust can develop simultaneously, and working at the international level provides clarity for businesses and confidence for consumers.
The draft regulation is based on the Framework Document on Automated Vehicles adopted in 2022, which defines the core principles of safety and protection, as well as recommendations for the requirements, assessments, and testing of ADS, to be approved in June 2024.
The document will be presented at the World Forum of the UNECE on the Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations, which will take place from June 23 to 26, 2026, and, if approved, the regulation will come into effect immediately.
According to information from the UN News Service, at the end of January, the U.S. Department of Transportation released a list of questions regarding the project to formulate an official position for the June vote.
China also plans to develop a national standard based on the global regulation and will begin gathering comments. Japan expressed satisfaction with the results achieved, while several European countries supported the initiative to create global regulation.
The photo on the main page is illustrative: UN Photo.
