UN R174 Base text (01 series) · UNECE Regulation No. 174 (ECE R174) — Uniform provisions concerning Safety-Belt Reminders.
UN R174 — 01 series of amendments
Changes from 00 series of amendments
- What changed
- If the vehicle master control switch was activated remotely, the first level warning must be (re-)initiated once the driver enters or driver presence is detected.
- New paragraph 5.5.3. allows the second level warning to be muted in case of activation of the accident emergency call system.
- As from 1 September 2027, Contracting Parties applying this Regulation are not obliged to accept preceding-series approvals first issued after 1 September 2027.
- Why
- With a remotely activated vehicle master control switch, the first cycle of the initial warning may already have ended before the driver enters the vehicle.
- During an emergency call, it should be possible to have a clear voice communication inside the vehicle without additional audible warnings.
- The expert from OICA amended the proposed transitional provisions to request a 1-year delay, until 1 September 2027.
Q1What changed24 changes
Vehicle master control switch: new definition and wording (paras. 2.18., 2.4., 5.2.3.1., 5.5.1., 5.6.2.4., 5.6.2.5., Annex 3)
New paragraph 2.18. defines the “Vehicle master control switch” device: it brings the vehicle’s on-board electronics system from switched off to a normal operation mode. In the definition, “switched off” is as in the case where a vehicle is parked without the driver being present. The definition explains the normal operation mode as the vehicle status “ready to drive”. Paragraphs 2.4., 5.2.3.1., 5.5.1., 5.6.2.4. and 5.6.2.5. and condition (c) in Annex 3 now say “vehicle master control switch” instead of “master control switch”.
First level warning after remote activation (para. 5.2.3.1.)
New text in paragraph 5.2.3.1. covers remote activation of the vehicle master control switch. If the vehicle master control switch was activated remotely, the first level warning must be (re-)initiated once the driver enters or driver presence is detected.
Folding seats without a compulsory safety-belt reminder (para. 5.1.3.)
A safety-belt reminder is still not compulsory on folding seats and on seating positions fitted with an S-type belt (including harness belt). The folding seats are now described as normally folded or stowed and designed for occasional use. For vehicles of category M2 or M3, the description names folding seats fitted in the access passages. For N1 or N2, it names folding seats fitted for the safe ingress and egress of the driver through the front passenger door. Before, the example given was foldable crew seats in the buses and coaches.
Second level warning during an emergency call (para. 5.5.3.)
Under new paragraph 5.5.3., in case of activation of the accident emergency call system, the second level warning may be muted.
Test conditions for the first level warning (Annex 3)
The test conditions for the first level warning in Annex 3 no longer include “Transmission is in neutral position”. The check of the safety-belt reminder state for all of the relevant seats now refers to conditions (a) to (d) instead of (a) to (e).
Transitional provisions (paras. 11. to 11.2.3.)
New paragraph 11. gives transitional provisions. Contracting Parties applying this Regulation may grant type approvals according to any of the preceding series of amendments. They must continue to grant extensions of existing approvals to any of the preceding series of amendments. From the official entry into force of the 01 series, no Contracting Party applying this Regulation may refuse to grant or accept 01 series approvals. As from 1 September 2027, they are not obliged to accept approvals to any of the preceding series, first issued after 1 September 2027. They must continue to accept approvals issued according to the original form of this Regulation, first issued before 1 September 2027.
Example of the approval mark (Annex 2)
In Annex 2, the example approval mark now shows approval No. 011234, and the text under it says 011234 instead of 001234. The first two digits (01) indicate approval in accordance with the requirements of the 01 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 174. Before, the digits were (00) and the text said “in its original form”. The dimension “a = 8 mm min.” now reads “a = 8 mm minimum” in full.
Q2Why it changed
- Proposed by
- Expert from the Netherlands
- Working party
- GRSP, 76th session (December 2024)
Reasons
Proposer's reason (informal document GRSP-76-27)
The change to paragraph 5.1.3. aims to clarify which folding seats are exempt from the SBR requirements. The M2 or M3 wording means to cover folding seats located in the entry and exit areas of buses and coaches. It also means to cover folded or stowed seats for occasional usage in the aisle areas of such vehicles. The N1 or N2 wording means to cover folding seats that can typically be found in delivery vans. In these vans, the driver frequently uses the front passenger door to safely exit the vehicle, on the vehicle side away from traffic.
Submitted by Expert from the Netherlands. Working party adoption: ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/76, para. 15.
Sources (3)
“The amendment of paragraph 5.1.3. aims to clarify which folding seats are exempt from the SBR requirements.”
“means to cover folding seats located in the entry and exit areas of buses and coaches, as well as folded or stowed seats for occasional usage in the aisle areas of such vehicles.”
“means to cover folding seats that can typically be found in delivery vans, and where this front passenger door is frequently used by the driver to safely exit the vehicle (on the vehicle side away from traffic).”
Proposer's reason (informal document GRSP-76-27)
With a remotely activated vehicle master control switch, the first cycle of the initial warning may already have ended before the driver enters the vehicle. According to the proposal, the addition to paragraph 5.2.3.1. makes sure that a driver will still receive the initial warning when entering the vehicle.
Submitted by Expert from the Netherlands. Working party adoption: ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/76, para. 15.
Sources (2)
“In the case of a remotely activated vehicle master control switch, the first cycle of the initial warning may already have ended before the driver enters the vehicle.”
“The addition to paragraph 5.2.3.1. ensures that a driver will still receive the initial warning when entering the vehicle.”
Proposer's reason (informal document GRSP-76-27)
During an emergency call, it should be possible to have a clear voice communication inside the vehicle without additional audible warnings.
Submitted by Expert from the Netherlands. Working party adoption: ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/76, para. 15.
Source
“During an emergency call, it should be possible to have a clear voice communication inside the vehicle without additional audible warnings.”
Proposer's reason (informal document GRSP-76-41-Rev.1)
Amendment GRSP/2024/02 from the Republic of Korea on behalf of the Taskforce was agreed in principle at GRSP. It was held until the complex work to split Regulation R16 was finalised. The time taken would result in its original 1 September 2026 transitional provisions being applicable as soon as it was published. The outcome of an informal discussion of this concern was that OICA would produce an informal document requesting a 1-year delay, until 1 September 2027. The same date of September 2027 for new type approvals concerning the package of the 3 UN Regulations will facilitate the administrative work for homologation.
Submitted by Expert from OICA. Working party adoption: ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/76, para. 15.
Sources (4)
“Amendment GRSP/2024/02 from Republic of Korea on behalf of the Taskforce, although agreed in principle at GRSP, was held until the complex work to split Regulation R16 was finalised”
“The time taken to do this would result in the original 1 September 2026 transitional provisions of GRSP/2024/02 to be applicable as soon as it was published.”
“The outcome of this discussion was that OICA would produce an informal document requesting a 1-year delay to GRSP, until 1st September 2027.”
“In addition, the same date of September 2027 for New Type Approvals concerning the package of the 3 UNRs will facilitate the administrative work for homologation.”
Proposer's reason (informal document GRSP-77-16)
According to the proposal, the amendment adopted by GRSP introduced “vehicle master control switch” as a new definition. However, the use of the term was missing in several related paragraphs. The corrigendum adds “vehicle” before “master control switch” in some sentences of paragraphs 2.4., 5.2.3.1., 5.5.1., 5.6.2.4. and 5.6.2.5. The proposal was made as a corrigendum to make sure that the adopted amendment can be interpreted correctly with the newly defined term.
Submitted by Republic of Korea. Working party adoption: ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/77, para. 35.
Sources (2)
“The adopted amendment by GRSP introduced “vehicle master control switch” as a new definition. However, the use of term is missing in several related paragraphs.”
“The proposal is made as a corrigendum, to make sure that the adopted amendment can be interpreted correctly with the newly defined term.”
Document trail
- 2024-03ProposalECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2024/2Earlier proposal for UN Regulation No. 16, superseded by GRSP-76-27
- —RevisedGRSP-76-27Revised proposal of the expert from the Netherlands
- —Amended in sessionGRSP-76-41-Rev.1Amendments of the expert from OICA to the transitional provisions of GRSP-76-27
- —Working party adoptsECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/76Session report, para. 15 and Annex V
- 2025-04Sent to WP.29ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2025/48Text that GRSP adopted and submitted to WP.29 and AC.1
- —ProposalGRSP-77-16Proposal of the Republic of Korea to correct UN Regulation No. 174
- —Working party adoptsECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/77Session report, para. 35 and Annex VIII
- 2025-09Sent to WP.29ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2025/136Corrigendum to the 01 series that GRSP adopted and submitted to WP.29 and AC.1
- 2025-06WP.29 adoptsECE/TRANS/WP.29/1186Adopted at the 196th session (session report, para. 111)
- 2026-01-11In forceC.N.52.2026.TREATIES-XI.B.16.174UN depositary notification
Q3Who is affected
Vehicle manufacturer
- After remote vehicle master control switch activation, (re-)initiate the first level warning once the driver enters or is detected.
- Decide whether to mute the second level warning in case of activation of the accident emergency call system (paragraph 5.5.3.).
- Plan for 1 September 2027: Contracting Parties applying this Regulation need not accept preceding-series approvals first issued after that date.
Component supplier
- No direct action for this role.
Technical service / Approval authority
- Test the first level warning under the Annex 3 conditions, which no longer include “Transmission is in neutral position”.
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ⓘ This report gives advice only. It is not legal or type-approval advice.