UN R167 Supplement 1 (00 series) · UNECE Regulation No. 167 (ECE R167) — Uniform Provisions Concerning the Approval of Motor Vehicles with Regard to Their Direct Vision.
UN R167 — Supplement 1 to the 00 series of amendments
Base text → Supplement 1
- What changed
- New paragraph 2.30. defines the “Inter A-pillar distance (IAPD)”.
- Where the IAPD is less than the Table 1 value, formulae for each level give the Front Visible Volume limit (paras. 5.3. to 5.3.3.).
- Under new paragraph 5.2.2.2., N3 vehicles in Level 3 that meet criteria (a) to (d) do not need to meet the required Front Visible Volume.
- Why
- The earlier method for the frontal visible volume depends on the A-pillar position, so it may disadvantage future cab designs with A-pillars closer together.
- The alternative procedure aims to keep vehicles with competing objectives available on the market and within the scope of the Direct Vision regulation.
- The term “direct vision” in the earlier text is ambiguous because UN R167 and UN R125 both use it.
Q1What changed17 changes
New definition of the Inter A-pillar distance (IAPD) (para. 2.30.)
New paragraph 2.30. defines the “Inter A-pillar distance (IAPD)”. It is the horizontal distance between the A-pillars, measured in the y-axis of the vehicle in a horizontal plane passing through the E-points. The alternative is the mean of the same measurement in two horizontal planes equidistant from the E-point plane, one above and one below. The manufacturer and the technical service must agree on the selection, and the type approval authority must approve it. The authority approves the selection as the one best characterising the width of the front windscreen between the A-pillars at heights relevant to direct vision.
IAPD entries for the Front Visible Volume in Table 1 (para. 5.2.2.1.)
Table 1 “Minimum Values of Visible Volume” now has IAPD entries in the Front Visible Volume row. The row now has the cells “IAPD ≥ 2156mm” and “IAPD ≥ 2154mm”. For the cells “IAPD < 2156mm” and “IAPD < 2154mm”, the table refers to paragraph 5.3.
Front Visible Volume formulae for a smaller IAPD (paras. 5.3. to 5.3.3.)
Paragraph 5.3. now applies where the inter A-pillar distance is less than IAPD as defined in Table 1. Then formulae in paragraphs 5.3.1. to 5.3.3. give the limit value for the Front Visible Volume (V, measured in mm3) for the applicable level. Paragraph 5.3.1. gives the formula for Level 1, and paragraphs 5.3.2. and 5.3.3. give one shared formula for Level 2 and Level 3. Before this supplement, paragraph 5.3. covered a vehicle that cannot meet the limit to the front because of an innovative design. Such a vehicle could be deemed to comply by a test with five test objects, if it passed all other applicable limits. The average distance limits were 1.65m for Level 1 and 1.97m for Level 2 and Level 3.
High capacity vehicles and vehicles with competing objectives (para. 5.2.2.2.)
New paragraph 5.2.2.2. covers N3 vehicles in Level 3 that meet the design and construction criteria (a) to (d). Criteria (a) to (c) are a coupling device, 3 axles or more, and a maximum engine power of 320 kW or more. Criterion (d) is a design with a permissible maximum gross combination weight (GCW) mass exceeding 60 tons. These vehicles do not need to meet the required Front Visible Volume.
Vehicles of category M2 and N2 derived from M1 or N1 (Annex 5, para. 2.1.2.)
Annex 5, paragraph 2.1.2. covers vehicles of category M2 and N2, derived from M1 or N1 approved to UN Regulation No. 125. These vehicles are now considered compliant with the requirements of this Regulation. Before this supplement, they were considered to have satisfied the requirements on direct vision.
Q2Why it changed
- Proposed by
- Expert from the Informal Working Group on Awareness of Vulnerable Road Users Proximity
- Working party
- GRSG, 126th session (October 2023)
Reasons
The earlier method for the frontal visible volume depends on the geometry of the cab design (position of the A-pillars). For this reason, it may disadvantage future cab designs with A-pillars closer to each other.
Sources (2)
“The current method for assessment of the frontal visible volume in UN Regulation No. 167 depends on the geometry of the cab design (position of the A-pillars).”
“Therefore, this method may disadvantage future cab designs with A-pillars closer to each other.”
With this amendment, vehicles with narrower cabs or A-pillars positioned inboard of the edge of the cab can be approved on a reduced limit value. The proposal states that this gives a level of safety equivalent to that offered by the 00 Series in this respect.
Source
“vehicles with narrower cabs or A pillars positioned inboard of the edge of the cab can be approved on a reduced limit value providing a level of safety equivalent to that offered by the 00 Series in this respect”
The alternative procedure for vehicles with competing objectives has two main reasons. The first is to make sure that such vehicles remain available on the market for their purpose. The second is to keep them within the scope of the Direct Vision regulation, to achieve as much as possible of the intended safety target.
Sources (3)
“The objective of introducing an alternative procedure for vehicles with competing objectives is based on two main reasons.”
“Firstly, to make sure that such vehicles remain available on the market for their purpose, otherwise ambitions and solutions like HCT could be hampered.”
“Secondly, it is important that such vehicles remain within the scope of the Direct Vision regulation in order to achieve as much as possible of the intended safety target of the Direct Vision ambition.”
The alternative procedure uses a list of specific design criteria based on the use-case at hand, to narrow it down as much as possible.
Source
“In order to narrow down as much as possible the alternative procedure for vehicles with conflicting interests it is based on a list of specific design criteria for its application based on the use-case at hand”
Proposer's reason (informal document GRSG-126-06)
The term “direct vision” in the earlier text is ambiguous because UN R167 and UN R125 both use it. For this reason, the wording is also ambiguous about the equivalency of the approvals between the two regulations. The proposal aims to bring clarity in this regard.
Submitted by Experts from VRU-Proxi. Working party adoption: ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSG/105, para. 13.
Sources (3)
“The term “direct vision” in the current text of the regulation is ambiguous since it is used in both UN R167 and UN R125.”
“Consequently, the current wording is also ambiguous about the equivalency of the approvals between the two regulations.”
“The proposal aims to bring clarity in this regard.”
Document trail
- 2023-07ProposalECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSG/2023/21Proposal prepared by the experts from the VRU-Proxi Informal Working Group
- —Amended in sessionGRSG-126-06Amendment to Annex 5, paragraph 2.1.2., adopted with the proposal
- —Amended in sessionGRSG-126-07-Rev.1Amendments to the proposal
- —Working party adoptsECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSG/105GRSG adopted the proposal as amended (session report, para. 13)
- 2023-12Sent to WP.29ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2024/13Text that GRSG sent to WP.29 and AC.1
- 2024-03WP.29 adoptsECE/TRANS/WP.29/1177Adopted at the 192nd session (session report, para. 140)
- 2024-09-22In forceC.N.423.2024.TREATIES-XI.B.16.167UN depositary notification
Q3Who is affected
Vehicle manufacturer
- Measure the IAPD as paragraph 2.30. defines it, to find which Front Visible Volume entry of Table 1 applies.
- Agree the IAPD measurement plane selection with the technical service, for approval by the type approval authority (para. 2.30.).
- If the IAPD is below the Table 1 value, use the formula of paragraphs 5.3.1. to 5.3.3. for the level.
- For N3 vehicles in Level 3, check if the vehicle meets criteria (a) to (d) of paragraph 5.2.2.2.
Component supplier
- No direct action for this role.
Technical service / Approval authority
- Agree the IAPD measurement plane selection with the manufacturer (para. 2.30.).
- Be ready to check Front Visible Volume limit values calculated with the formulae of paragraphs 5.3.1. to 5.3.3.
- Be ready to check criteria (a) to (d) for N3 vehicles in Level 3 that use paragraph 5.2.2.2.
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ⓘ This report gives advice only. It is not legal or type-approval advice.