UN R16 Supplement 3 (10 series) · UNECE Regulation No. 16 (ECE R16) — Uniform Provisions Concerning the Approval of: Safety-Belts and Restraint Systems, for Occupants of Power-Driven Vehicles.
UN R16 — Supplement 3 to the 10 series of amendments
Supplement 2 → 3
- What changed
- The Regulation now accounts for vehicles of category X, and it does not apply to vehicles of category Y.
- New paragraphs 2.26. and 2.27. define ADS features of type 1 (ADSF-1) and type 2 (ADSF-2).
- In paragraph 6.4.1.4.1.1., the chest-contact allowance now refers to an occupant having a steering control in front instead of the driver.
- Why
- The proposal was prepared to enable the application of the Regulation to vehicles equipped with an Automated Driving System (ADS).
- The amendment intends to keep the spirit of the Regulation and to extend its application to vehicles without a driver and manual driving controls.
Q1What changed16 changes
Category X and Y vehicles and ADS (paras. 0.1. to 0.1.3.)
New paragraph 0.1. is headed "For supplement 3 to the 10 series of amendments". The Regulation is amended to account for vehicles of category X, and vehicles of category Y are not in its scope. Without a driver or manual driving controls, provisions related to them are not taken into account, unless this amendment already covers them. For vehicles with an Automated Driving System (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. The footnote on the R.E.3 definitions now refers to document ECE/TRANS/WP.29/78/Rev.8 and a new web address.
Scope: category Y vehicles excluded (paras. 1.1. to 1.2.)
The paragraph "This Regulation applies to:" now has the number 1.1. Former paragraphs 1.1. and 1.2. become paragraphs 1.1.1. and 1.1.2. Their text does not change. New paragraph 1.2. says that this Regulation does not apply to vehicles of category Y.
Front passenger seat in category X vehicles (para. 2.15.1.)
Paragraph 2.15.1. defines a front passenger seat by the vertical transverse plane through the driver's R-point. For vehicles of category X, a new sentence uses the "R" point of the most forward passenger seat instead of the driver's R-point.
New definitions of ADS feature types (paras. 2.26. and 2.27.)
New paragraph 2.26. defines ADSF-1: an ADS feature which includes an ADS fallback response requiring a fallback user. New paragraph 2.27. defines ADSF-2: an ADS feature which does not include an ADS fallback response requiring a fallback user.
Retractor signal or power failure whilst an ADSF-2 is active (para. 6.2.5.3.1.5.)
A retractor that depends on an external signal or power source must lock automatically upon failure or interruption of that signal or power source. Paragraph 6.2.5.3.1.5. has an exemption for a retractor with multiple sensitivities where only one sensitivity depends on the signal or power source. Before, the exemption also needed the failure to be indicated to the driver by optical and/or acoustical means. Now, whilst an ADSF-2 is active, the failure can instead be transmitted as a logic signal to the ADS.
Chest contact with the steering control (para. 6.4.1.4.1.1.)
Paragraph 6.4.1.4.1.1. allowed contact of the chest with the steering assembly in the case of the driver. It now applies to an occupant having a steering control in front, and it refers to the steering control. The conditions stay the same: UN Regulation No. 12 requirements and no contact at a speed higher than 24 km/h.
Driver wording in item (i) and in the type 4N retractor statement (Annex 9, para. 2.)
In item (i), the words "other than the driver" become "other than the one for the driver". In Annex 9, paragraph 2., the statement for belts with a type 4N retractor no longer adds "including that of the driver" after "not more than nine seats".
Q2Why it changed
- Proposed by
- Expert from Germany on behalf of the GRSP Task Force on Automated Vehicles Regulation Screening (TF-AVRS)
- Working party
- GRSP, 78th session (December 2025)
Reasons
The expert from Germany prepared the proposal on behalf of TF-AVRS. The aim was to enable the application of the Regulation to vehicles equipped with an Automated Driving System (ADS).
Source
“The text reproduced below was prepared by the expert from Germany on behalf of TF-AVRS, to enable the application of the regulation to vehicles equipped with an Automated Driving System (ADS).”
The Justification of the proposal refers to paragraph 0. Paragraph 0.1.2. of ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2026/62 says that the Regulation was originally drafted for vehicles with a driver and manual driving controls. The amendment intends to keep the spirit of the Regulation and to extend its application to vehicles without a driver and manual driving controls.
Sources (3)
“See paragraph 0. in the proposal.”
“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 manual driving controls”
Annex VI of report ECE/TRANS/WP.29/1192 contains adopted editorial amendments to documents adopted by AC.1. For this document, they give the new text of footnote 1.
Source
“contains adopted editorial amendments to documents adopted by AC.1”
Document trail
- 2025-09ProposalECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2025/15Proposal by the expert from Germany on behalf of TF-AVRS
- —Amended in sessionGRSP-78-33Changes to the proposal submitted by TF-AVRS at the session
- —Working party adoptsECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/78Session report, para. 43
- 2026-04Sent to WP.29ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2026/62Text 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
- If a retractor uses the ADS logic signal route, make sure that the ADS receives the failure signal (para. 6.2.5.3.1.5.).
Component supplier
- For a retractor with multiple sensitivities, decide how to report a failure whilst an ADSF-2 is active (para. 6.2.5.3.1.5.).
- For belts with a type 4N retractor, delete "including that of the driver" from the statement in the installation instructions and on the packaging.
- Update your documents that quote paragraphs 1.1. and 1.2. to the new numbers 1.1.1. and 1.1.2.
Technical service / Approval authority
- For category X vehicles, find front passenger seats from the "R" point of the most forward passenger seat (para. 2.15.1.).
- Assess chest contact with the steering control for any occupant having a steering control in front (para. 6.4.1.4.1.1.).
- In the test report, evaluate the contact contour for any restraint system other than the one for the driver.
- Update your checklists to the new numbers 1.1.1. and 1.1.2. and to new paragraph 1.2. on category Y vehicles.
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ⓘ This report gives advice only. It is not legal or type-approval advice.
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