Archive
Oct 2021
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Proposed New Rule to Revise 2023 and Later Model Year Light-Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Standards
The EPA issued a proposal in the August 10, 2021 Federal Register to increase the stringency of GHG Emission and Fuel Economy on Light Vehicles. Near term actions are for vehicles through 2026 MY and there are longer term actions included for 2027 MY and beyond. The EPA provided a long list of actions where they are seeking comments. Included are purpose, authority, history, analysis, cost, incentives, alternatives, etc.
Sep 2021
EU Regulation on Driver Drowsiness and Attention Warning Systems Published
On August 16, 2021, new European Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/1341 on Driver Drowsiness and Attention Warning (DDAW) systems was published. The fitment of DDAW systems is one of the new safety features mandated by EU Regulation 2019/2144, and this new Delegated Regulation specifies the technical and performance requirements for DDAW systems and specifies criteria for the validation testing which must be undertaken by vehicle manufacturers to demonstrate the compliance of their DDAW systems with defined minimum performance thresholds.
Aug 2021
Two New ECE Regulations to Protect Vulnerable Road Users Published
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN ECE) have recently published two new UN ECE Regulations covering systems which are intended to assist drivers in avoiding collisions with vulnerable road users, i.e. pedestrians and cyclists.
Jul 2021
Draft EU Regulation on Type Approval Market Surveillance Requirements Published
On June 8, 2021, the European Commission published a new draft EU Implementing Regulation for EU Regulation No. 2018/858 on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles. This new draft Implementing Regulation provides additional detail and definition regarding the operation and coordination of the market surveillance activities specified within (EU) No. 2018/858. In addition, this draft Implementing Regulation also defines the data which manufacturers must make available to the European Commission and to legitimate third party organisations to allow them to carry compliance testing on their products.
Jun 2021
NHTSA Seeks To Repeal The Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient Vehicles Part One: One National Program
Published in the May 12, 2021 Federal Register, a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) proposes to fully repeal the regulatory text and appendices promulgated in the "The Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicles Rule Part One: One National Program" (Safe I) regulation published in the September 27, 2019 Federal Register. NHTSA had codified regulatory text and made additional pronouncements regarding the preemption of state and local laws related to fuel economy standards. This NPRM proposes to repeal and withdraw the interpretative statements made by the NHTSA in the SAFE I rule preamble, including those regarding the preemption of particular state Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions standards or Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) mandates.
May 2021
EU Regulation on Emergency Lane Keeping Systems Published
The mandatory fitment of Emergency Lane Keeping Systems (ELKS) is one of the new safety features required by EU Regulation 2019/2144, and to support the introduction of such systems, a new Implementing Regulation on ELKS was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on April 20, 2021. This new Implementing Regulation, (EU) 2021/646, specifies the technical and performance requirements for Emergency Lane Keeping Systems (ELKS), which are actually a combination of a Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS) and a Corrective Directional Control Function (CDCF).
Apr 2021
New UN ECE Regulation on Automated Lane Keeping Systems Published
On March 4, 2021, new United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN ECE) Regulation No. 157-00 on automated lane keeping systems was officially published. This new Regulation represents a major milestone in the establishment of legal requirements for automated driving systems because it is the first Regulation to cover systems which actively control both the vehicle’s lateral movement (i.e. steering) and its longitudinal movement (i.e. acceleration and deceleration) over extended periods without driver input.
Mar 2021
Draft EU Regulation on Driver Drowsiness and Attention Warning Systems Published
The mandatory fitment of Driver Drowsiness and Attention Warning (DDAW) systems is one of the new safety features mandated by EU Regulation 2019/2144, and to support the introduction of such systems, on February 8, 2021, the European Commission published a draft Delegated Regulation on the type approval of DDAW systems. This draft Regulation specifies technical and performance requirements for DDAW systems and specifies criteria for the validation testing which must be undertaken by vehicle manufacturers to demonstrate the compliance of their DDAW systems with defined minimum performance thresholds.
Feb 2021
New Chinese Standards on Advanced Driver Assistance Systems Published
The Chinese Government have published three new standards which specifically cover advanced driver assistance systems. Chinese standard GB/T 39263-2020 specifies terms and definitions for a wide variety of different advanced driver assistance systems, whilst Chinese standards GB/T 39265-2020 and GB/T 39323-2020 specify technical requirements and test procedures for blind spot detection systems and lane keep assist systems respectively.
Jan 2021
NHTSA Seeks Additional Input for Development of a Framework for Automated Driving System (ADS) Safety
As noted in the InterRegs December Bulletin, NHTSA had authored an ANPRM on Automated Driving Systems that was to be released in the Federal Register soon. In the December 3rd Federal Register (F.R. Vol. 85 No. 223) the ANPRM was published. The document contains numerous specific requests for comment regarding Safety Framework, NHTSA Research, Administrative Mechanisms and Statutory Authority. The ANPRM also highlights potential safety benefits of ADSs and activity to remove unintentional and unnecessary barriers to the development and deployment of ADS vehicles.