Archive
2020-03-01
USDOT Expands Autonomous Vehicle Support and Requests Comments
The Office of the Secretary for the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) issued Automated Vehicles 4.0: Ensuring American Leadership in Automated Vehicle Technologies, and released a Request for Comments on the new document in the February 6, 2020 Federal Register. Part of the efforts covered in the document is to expand the scope to include 38 relevant US Government components. Also included in the report are 10 AV technology principles.
2020-02-01
New ECE Regulation on Blind Spot Information Systems Published
On January 13, 2020, a new United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN ECE) Regulation on Blind Spot Information Systems for the detection of bicycles, ECE Regulation No. 151, was published. This new Regulation applies to heavy trucks, i.e. N2 category vehicles with a GVW exceeding 8,000kg and all N3 category vehicles, and requires them to be fitted with a system which informs the driver when bicycles are in close proximity to the vehicle and warns the driver when a potential collision with a bicycle is detected.
2020-01-01
New EU General Safety Regulation Published
The long awaited new EU General Safety Regulation was finally published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 16th December 2019 as EU Regulation No. 2019/2144. This new Regulation repeals and replaces the existing EU General Safety Regulation, (EC) No. 661/2009, and requires the mandatory fitment of a number of new safety technologies, such as advanced emergency braking systems (AEBS), emergency lane keeping systems and driver drowsiness and attention detection systems.
2019-12-01
EU Regulation on Aerodynamic Devices for Trucks and Trailers Published
On November 12, 2019, a new EU Regulation was published which introduced amendments to EU Regulation No. 1230/2012 on the type approval requirements for masses and dimensions for motor vehicles and their trailers. This new Regulation, EU Regulation No. 2019/1892, introduces new provisions that allow buses, trucks and trailers to exceed the specified maximum permitted vehicle overall dimension limits when fitted with deployable aerodynamic devices (flaps) or, in the case of trucks, when fitted with an elongated cab having improved aerodynamic performance. This new Regulation also introduces provisions to allow for the separate technical unit type approval of deployable aerodynamic devices.
2019-11-01
NHTSA Issues an Advanced Proposal for the Addition of a Seat Belt Use Warning System for Rear Seats
On September 27, 2019 (FR Vol. 84 No. 188) the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) published an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) (Docket No. NHTSA 2019 - 0093). NHTSA proposes to amend Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 208 - Occupant Crash Protection to require a rear seat belt usage warning system. NHTSA is requesting public comments to a number of specific questions. Comments are due by November 26, 2019. This ANPRM continues a response to the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act of 2012. NHTSA initiated rulemaking in 2013.
2019-10-01
NHTSA Issues an NPRM to allow more Flexibility in the Pedestrian Alert Sounds of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (HEVs)
On September 17, 2019 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to amend Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 141, Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (HEVs) to allow a number of driver-selectable pedestrian alert sounds in each HEV manufactured. This proposal responds to a Petition for Reconsideration submitted for the FMVSS No. 141 Final Rule published December 14, 2016.
2019-09-01
New EU Regulation on CO2 Emissions Targets for Heavy Duty Vehicles Published
On July 25, 2019, a new European Union Regulation specifying CO2 emissions reduction targets for heavy duty vehicles, EU Regulation No. 2019/1242, was published in the Official Journal of the European Union. This new Regulation requires heavy duty vehicle manufacturers to achieve a 15% reduction in average CO2 emissions from 2025 and a 30% reduction from 2030 or face fines for non-compliance. The Regulation also contains requirements to incentivise zero and low emission vehicles.
2019-08-01
New UN ECE Regulation on Advanced Emergency Braking Systems Adopted
At the 178th session of the World Forum for Harmonisation of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) in June 2019, a new UN ECE Regulation on Advanced Emergency Braking Systems (AEBS) for M1 and N1 category vehicles was adopted. This new Regulation, which has been allocated the number ECE 152, specifies requirements for AEBS systems that can detect an impending forward collision with another vehicle or with a pedestrian and warn the driver of this situation. If the driver does not react to this warning, the AEBS will automatically apply the vehicle’s brakes to avoid or mitigate the severity of the collision.
2019-07-01
US Federal Agencies are Continuing to Pursue Rulemaking related to Autonomous Vehicles
On May 28, 2019 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) proposed an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) and is seeking public comment on testing and verifying compliance with existing crash avoidance (100-Series) Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSSs). Also on May 28, 2019, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued an ANPRM and is seeking public comment addressing the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) that may need to be amended, revised, or eliminated to facilitate the safe introduction of Automated Driving Systems (ADS) equipped Commercial Motor Vehicles (CMVs).
2019-06-01
Draft Amendments to EU Regulation on Heavy Duty Vehicle Emissions Published
On 17th May 2019, the European Commission published a draft Regulation introducing "Step E" of the Euro VI heavy duty emissions requirements. The two main amendments being proposed as part of "Step E" relate to the portable emissions measurement system (PEMS) testing requirements. The first amendment introduces requirements for the cold start emissions to be included in the evaluation of the final emissions results and the second one requires particulate matter (PM) numbers to be measured during PEMS testing.