On February 21, 2023, an 03 Series of Amendments to United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN ECE) Regulation No. 127 on pedestrian safety performance was published. The 03 Series of Amendments expands the area within which head impact performance requirements must be met. This is achieved by increasing the 'wrap around distance' that is used to generate the head impact zone from 2,100mm to 2,500mm. Also introduced by the 03 Series of Amendments is a new definition for a 'windscreen test area' and a requirement for headform impact testing to be carried out on the windscreen, where part of the windscreen falls within the defined head impact zone.
For M1 and N1 category vehicles (e.g. passenger cars, multipurpose passenger vehicles, vans and pick-up trucks), compliance with the 03 Series of Amendments to UN ECE Regulation No. 127 becomes mandatory for new types of vehicle from July 7, 2024 and for all new vehicles from July 7, 2026. (Note: These mandatory compliance dates align with those specified in EU Regulation No. 2019/2144.)
A consolidated version of UN ECE Regulation No. 127, incorporating the 03 Series of Amendments, is available on InterRegs.NET for our ECE subscribers, and is also available at www.selectregs.com.