New regulations require black box installation

More than fifty countries gathered at the World Forum for the Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) adopted this week a new regulation on autonomous cars which will come into force in 2021.

This “binding international standard (…) marks an important step towards a wider deployment of autonomous vehicles”, underlined this Thursday in a press release the UNECE, which brings together 53 States in Europe, Asia and Africa.

@UN Regulation on Automated Lane Keeping Systems is a milestone for safe introduction of automated vehicles in traffic

Adopted by @UNECE’s World Forum, it’s the 1st binding international regulation on so-called “level 3” vehicle automation #roadsafety
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— UNECE (@UNECE) June 26, 2020

Not above 60 km / h

The regulation thus establishes strict requirements for “automated lane keeping systems” (ALKS) which can control the vehicle when the driver is behind the wheel and has his seat belt fastened. The text provides that they are activated only on roads where pedestrians and cyclists are prohibited and which are equipped with a physical separation between the two directions of traffic. It also fixes the operating limit of these systems at a maximum of 60 km / h.

The regulations also require that screens used for activities other than driving (Internet, video, entertainment, etc.) be automatically disconnected as soon as the driver has to regain control.

Obligation of a black box

The regulation also provides for the obligation to introduce systems for recognizing the availability of drivers: these systems control both the presence of the driver (in the driver’s seat, seat belt fastened) and his availability to regain control of the vehicle . This is measured by several elements such as a request to activate the driver’s exclusive takeover of the vehicle, blinking or closing of the eyes and conscious movement of the head or body.

Finally, the regulation introduces the obligation to equip the vehicle with a black box, called a “data storage system for automated driving”.

No application date for the EU

Japan – which co-led the drafting of the regulation with Germany – will apply the regulation as soon as it enters into force. The European Commission, which has also contributed to its development alongside France, the Netherlands and Canada in particular, has announced that it will apply in the EU at a later date without specifying it.

The United States is not part of the World Forum but its car manufacturers will have to follow the new regulations to sell their vehicles for example in Japan.

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