UN R12 Supplement 1 (05 series) · UNECE Regulation No. 12 (ECE R12) — Uniform provisions concerning the approval of vehicles with regard to the protection of the driver against the steering mechanism in the event of impact.
UN R12 — Supplement 1 to the 05 series of amendments
Base text → Supplement 1
- What changed
- The Regulation now accounts for vehicles of category X and does not apply to vehicles of category Y.
- The scope is now separated into vehicles (para. 1.1.) and steering control types (para. 1.3.).
- In many paragraphs, “the driver” becomes “an occupant”: the occupant in the seating position with the steering mechanism in front.
- Why
- The Regulation was first written for vehicles with a driver and manual driving controls.
- The amendment intends to extend the application of the Regulation to vehicles without a driver and without manual driving controls inside the vehicle.
- WP.29 aimed to adopt all documents of the review of existing UN Regulations for Automated Driving Systems (ADS) at its June 2026 session.
Q1What changed43 changes
New introduction (section 0.)
New section 0. says that the Regulation is amended to account for vehicles of category X. It also says that vehicles of category Y are not in the scope of this Regulation. Without a driver or manual driving controls, provisions related to them must not be taken into account, unless this amendment already covers them. For vehicles with an ADS other than category X, no special provisions or exemptions apply in the manual driving mode. In a mode where an ADS feature is active, the relevant ADS requirements apply. Paragraphs 0.1.4. and 0.1.5. give the reasons for the new scope structure and for the changes to paragraphs 3.1.2. and 3.2.2.
Scope for vehicles and steering control types (paras. 1.1., 1.3. and 1.4.)
Paragraph 1.1. still covers M1 vehicles and N1 vehicles with a maximum permissible mass less than 1,500 kg. Before, it applied to the behaviour of the steering mechanism and to the electric power train operating on high voltage of these vehicles. It now applies to these vehicles when equipped with (a) a steering mechanism, (b) an electric power train operating on high voltage, or both. Both items concern the protection of occupants in a frontal collision. New paragraph 1.3. applies the Regulation to a steering control type, for the protection of occupants against the steering mechanism in a frontal collision. New paragraph 1.4. says that the Regulation does not apply to vehicles of category Y.
Definitions (paras. 2.1., 2.2.1.1., 2.2.2.1., 2.3., 2.5., 2.7.1. and 2.8.)
In the approval of a vehicle (para. 2.1.), “the driver” becomes “an occupant”, and “(if fitted)” follows “the steering mechanism”. If an electric power train operating on high voltage is fitted, the approval now also covers protection against electrical shock in the event of impact. Paragraph 2.2.1.1. adds “(if fitted)” after “steering control”. For category X vehicles powered by an electric engine and without a steering control, paragraph 2.2.2.1. now considers the part forward of the passenger compartment. In paragraphs 2.3. and 2.7.1., “the driver” and “the vehicle driver” become “an occupant”. Paragraph 2.5. now says that a steering control “may be actuated by a driver”, and paragraph 2.8. now says “during manual driving”.
Application for approval (paras. 3.1.1., 3.1.2., 3.1.2.6. to 3.1.2.8., 3.2.1., 3.2.2. and 3.2.2.3.)
In paragraph 3.1.1., the application for approval against the steering mechanism now refers to the protection of an occupant instead of the driver. Paragraph 3.1.1. now also names the application for approval of a vehicle type against electrical shock in the event of impact. In the application for approval of a steering control type (para. 3.2.1.), “the driver” becomes “an occupant”. Paragraphs 3.1.2. and 3.2.2. no longer ask for the documents in triplicate. Paragraphs 3.1.2.6., 3.1.2.7. and 3.2.2.3. now end with “if applicable”, and paragraph 3.1.2.8. now ends with “if fitted”.
Steering column test and steering control requirements (paras. 5.1., 5.1.1., 5.4., 5.4.1., 5.4.1.1. and 5.4.2.)
In paragraph 5.1., the unladen vehicle of the barrier collision test is now “equipped with a steering mechanism”. The limits for the movement of the steering column and its shaft do not change. Paragraph 5.1.1. now limits the existing option of a separate frontal impact test for paragraph 5.5. to vehicles equipped with a steering mechanism. This option still needs a request by the manufacturer and validation by the Technical Service. In the condition for this test, “the driver's protection performance” becomes “the occupant protection performance”. Paragraph 5.4. now says “A steering control”, and paragraphs 5.4.1., 5.4.1.1. and 5.4.2. now refer to an occupant instead of the driver.
Communication and approval marks (Annex 1 A, Annex 1 B and Annex 2)
In Annex 1 A and Annex 1 B, “the driver” becomes “an occupant”. Under “Production definitively discontinued”, Annex 1 A now also names a vehicle type for protection against electrical shock in the event of impact. In Annex 2, the text under Model A now refers to an occupant instead of the driver and adds “(if fitted)” and “and/or against electrical shock”. The electrical shock part applies if the vehicle is equipped with an electric power train operating on high voltage. The text under Models C and D now refers to an occupant instead of the driver.
R.E.3 references in footnotes 1 and 2 (section 0., para. 4.3.4.1.)
New footnote 1 (section 0.) refers to the definitions in R.E.3, document ECE/TRANS/WP.29/78/Rev.8, paragraph 2. The footnote to paragraph 4.3.4.1. becomes footnote 2. Footnote 2 now refers to R.E.3 document ECE/TRANS/WP.29/78/Rev.8, Annex 3, for the distinguishing numbers of the Contracting Parties. Before, it referred to document ECE/TRANS/WP.29/78/Rev.2/Amend.1. Both footnotes now give a new web address.
Q2Why it changed
- Proposed by
- GRSP Task Force on Automated Vehicles Regulation Screening (TF-AVRS)
- Working party
- GRSP, 78th session (December 2025)
Reasons
The Regulation was first written for vehicles with a driver and manual driving controls. The amendment intends to keep the spirit of the Regulation. It also intends to extend the application of the Regulation to vehicles without a driver and without manual driving controls inside the vehicle.
Sources (2)
“The Regulation was originally drafted for vehicles with driver and manual driving controls”
“It is the intention of this amendment to keep the spirit of the regulation and to extend its application to vehicles without driver and without manual driving controls inside the vehicle”
The Regulation was first drafted with reference to the “driver”. This amendment replaces that term with “occupant”: the occupant in the seating position with the steering mechanism in front.
Sources (2)
“The Regulation was originally drafted with reference to the "driver"”
“It has been replaced in this amendment with the term "occupant", representing the occupant in the seating position with the steering mechanism in front”
To improve the structure of the Regulation, the scope is separated into vehicles and steering controls.
Sources (2)
“To improve the structure of the Regulation the scope is separated into vehicles with regard to the protection of occupants against the steering mechanism and/or against electrical shock in a frontal collision”
“and to steering controls with regard to the protection of occupants in the event of an impact”
The changes to paragraphs 3.1.2. and 3.2.2. are not related to the task to make UN Regulations applicable for vehicles with an ADS. The request to send documents in triplicate is outdated.
Sources (2)
“Amendments in paragraphs 3.1.2. and 3.2.2. are not related to the task to make UN Regulations applicable for vehicles with an ADS”
“The request to send documents in triplicate is outdated”
WP.29 aimed to adopt all documents of the review of existing UN Regulations for Automated Driving Systems (ADS) at its June 2026 session.
Source
“WP.29 reaffirmed its objective to adopt all documents related to the review of existing UN Regulations related to Automated Driving Systems (ADS) at its June 2026 session”
Document trail
- —Amended in sessionGRSP-78-38TF-AVRS changes to ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2025/12
- —Working party adoptsECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/78GRSP session report, para. 43 and Annex X
- 2026-04Sent to WP.29ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2026/60Text that GRSP sent to WP.29 and AC.1
- 2026-06-24WP.29 adoptsECE/TRANS/WP.29/1192Adopted at the 199th session (session report, para. 103)
- PendingIn forceDate not yet known
Q3Who is affected
Vehicle manufacturer
- Check in R.E.3 (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/78/Rev.8) if your vehicles are of category X or category Y.
- For electric category X vehicles without a steering control, consider the part forward of the passenger compartment (para. 2.2.2.1.).
- Update your vehicle type applications: paragraph 3.1.1. now also names the application against electrical shock in the event of impact.
- Update your application documents: paragraph 3.1.2. no longer asks for them in triplicate.
- Give the particulars of paragraphs 3.1.2.6. and 3.1.2.7. if applicable, and of paragraph 3.1.2.8. if fitted.
Component supplier
- Update your steering control type applications: paragraph 3.2.1. now refers to the protection of an occupant.
- Update your application documents: paragraph 3.2.2. no longer asks for them in triplicate.
- Check the steering control against paragraphs 5.4.1., 5.4.1.1. and 5.4.2., which now refer to an occupant.
Technical service / Approval authority
- Check for each vehicle type which of items (a) and (b) of paragraph 1.1. applies.
- In your Annex 1 A and Annex 1 B communications, refer to an occupant instead of the driver.
- In your Annex 1 A communication, add the new line for protection against electrical shock under “Production definitively discontinued”.
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ⓘ This report gives advice only. It is not legal or type-approval advice.