05/05/2022
An amendment to UN Regulation R 157 extends the first binding international regulation for the introduction of "Level 3" vehicle automation to include applicability to heavy-duty vehicles.
Already in January 2021, UN Regulation R 157 Automated Lane Keeping System (ALKS) for passenger cars came into force. ALKS can be activated under certain conditions on roads where pedestrians and cyclists are prohibited and where there is a physical separation between the two lanes. The current permitted operating speed is limited to a maximum of 60 km/h. Once the ALKS is activated, this system has control of the vehicle. However, the driver must be able to react to the system at any time and take back control of the vehicle.
In future, this regulation will not only apply to passenger cars, but with the addition of the UNECE, it is now also applicable to heavy-duty vehicles such as trucks and buses. In addition, heavy-duty vehicles require a detection system that checks the presence as well as the availability of the driver to take back control. A Blackbox is to be used to store data on the course of an accident via a data storage system for automated driving (DSSAD). The amendment also includes stricter requirements for Cybersecurity and Software Updates in line with existing UN regulations. In addition, specific requirements of heavy-duty vehicles must be taken into account, for example, the entire length of the vehicle (tractor and trailer) via sensors, as well as the dynamics of heavy-duty vehicles (e.g. lower braking capacity compared to passenger cars).
This addition to the UN regulation is expected to come into force in June 2022.