Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
In an effort to harness advanced technologies to strengthen road safety, the UNECE World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) has adopted a new regulation on emergency lane keeping system, and it endorsed the guidance document on data storage for automated driving.
The emergency lane keeping system (ELKS) is a driver assisting system that provides warning to the driver and corrects the trajectory only when the driver is unintentionally leaving the lane. Unintentional drifting over lane markings typically happens during long and monotonous journeys and can be particularly dangerous if another vehicle is in the adjacent lane at the moment of changing lanes. If the driver does not react in time, ELKS can actively and quickly steer the vehicle back into its own lane, thus avoiding an accident.
The new UNECE regulation establishes uniform provisions for ELKS fitted to passenger vehicles and vans. It stipulates that the system will automatically detect a potential lane departure, provide the driver with an appropriate warning and correct the vehicle’s trajectory when the driver unintentionally leaves the lane. The driver can maintain control and override the system at any time by taking a deliberate action, such as steering or other control inputs.
The regulation will enter into force in February 2026.
Guidance on data storage for automated driving
The data storage system for automated driving is a device or a function that records and stores a set of data (timestamped flags) during the automated driving sequences of any vehicle equipped with level 3, 4 and 5 automated driving systems (ADS) to provide a clear picture of the interactions between the driver and the system whenever an important safety related event occurs. It is used to establish whether the driver or the system was requested to be in control of the driving task, and who was actually performing the driving task.
The guidance on data storage for automated driving endorsed by UNECE’s World Forum provides recommendations to enable the evaluation of ADS performance. It proposes what data elements (e.g. data pertaining to sensing and perception, planning and decision, and control) should be recorded and how they should be stored, with provisions regarding access and confidentiality. It suggests that all of the stored data should be readily accessible to entities as defined under national law, and that the manufacturer should ensure the data is promptly available in a standardized and readable format through an electronic communication interface, preferably an internationally recognized standard.
The adoption of this guidance document took place in the context of the development of a global regulation on automated driving system, and discussions have already taken place to cover DSSAD in the new regulation currently in development.
In another decision that is expected to improve road safety, the World Forum adopted a new series of amendments to the UN Regulation No. 175 on Acceleration Control for Pedal Error (ACPE) to prevent sudden acceleration when the vehicle is driving very slowly (creeping) and to extend the scope of application to vans in addition to passenger cars with automatic transmission.
Note to editors
About the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations
The World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations, hosted by UNECE, is a unique global platform responsible for the regulatory frameworks regarding the safety and environmental performance of vehicles, their subsystems and parts.
The World Forum manages three global agreements on vehicles: 1958 Agreement (UN Regulations); 1998 Agreement (UN Global Technical Regulations); and 1997 Agreement (UN Rules on Periodic Technical Inspections). Any country that is member of the United Nations may participate in the activities of the World Forum and accede to the Agreements.
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