UN R48 Supplement 16 (06 series) · UNECE Regulation No. 48 (ECE R48) — Uniform provisions concerning the approval of vehicles with regard to the installation of lighting and light-signalling devices.
UN R48 — Supplement 16 to the 06 series of amendments
Supplement 15 → 16
- What changed
- In case of doubt, paragraph 5.10.4.3. accepts red light to the front and/or white light to the rear below 0.25 cd per lamp. The values are those verified during type approval of the lamps, taking into account the influence of the vehicle body if applicable.
- New paragraph 6.22.9.3.2. lets the adaptive main beam produce a Driver Assistance Projection to warn the driver appropriately about special traffic situations or conditions. Only the symbols and patterns listed in Annex 16 may be used (para. 5.35.2.).
- For lamps incorporating a manufacturer logo, the vehicle front and rear can each have only two lateral logos or one central logo (para. 5.5.5.).
- Why
- The old requirement in paragraph 5.10. can be difficult to check when the lighting device or the vehicle has a complex shape.
- The GTB proposal aims to allow driver assistance projections on the road ahead of the vehicle, as part of the Adaptive Driving Beam (ADB).
- The old text did not restrict the number and size of logos, and the proposers chose to allow logos only in a very restrictive way.
Q1What changed77 changes
Light which could give rise to confusion (para. 5.10. and Annex 4)
Paragraph 5.10.1.: red light from a lamp fitted on the rear (as defined in paragraph 2.1.5.) must not be visible from the front. Paragraph 5.10.2.: white light from a lamp fitted on the front (as defined in paragraph 2.1.5.) must not be visible from the rear. To check paragraphs 5.10.1. and 5.10.2., paragraphs 5.10.4.1. and 5.10.4.2. use an observer who moves within Zone 1 or Zone 2. New paragraph 5.10.4.3. adds a criterion for cases of doubt: a luminous intensity of less than 0.25 cd per lamp. It applies to red light emitted to the front and/or white light emitted to the rear, as verified during type approval of the lamps. This takes into account the influence of the vehicle body if applicable.
Number of main-beam headlamps and auxiliary driving-beam lamps (paras. 2.5.1.1., 6.1.2., 6.1.7.4.)
Paragraph 6.1.2. gives two or four main-beam headlamps, type approved according to UN Regulations Nos. 98, 112 (Class B) or 149 (listed classes). Optionally, one additional pair is allowed, type approved according to the listed UN Regulations and classes, which include Class RA of UN Regulation No. 149. Paragraph 6.1.7.4. now says that no more than two pairs may be simultaneously lit in case more than one pair of main-beam headlamps is installed. Before this supplement, this limit applied in case the extra two main-beam headlamps were installed, as permitted for vehicles of the category N3 only. New paragraph 2.5.1.1. defines an auxiliary driving-beam (auxiliary main-beam) lamp: a driving-beam approved as separate lamp that supplements a driving-beam of another class. Class RA auxiliary driving-beams must only be switched ON together with driving-beams of another class, except for intermittent light signals at short intervals (paragraph 5.12.).
Concealable headlamps and the reference mark “10” (paras. 6.1.7.6. and 6.1.9.2.)
Paragraph 6.1.7.6. is deleted. It covered additional headlamps intended for light signals consisting of intermittent illumination at short intervals in daylight. Where four concealable headlamps were fitted, their raised position had to prevent the simultaneous operation of these additional headlamps. The text on two additional headlamps with four concealable headlamps, authorized only for this light-signalling in daylight, is also deleted. Paragraph 6.1.9.2. deletes the sentence that gave the reference mark “10” to each of the headlamps marked “R” or “CR”. The maximum intensity is still obtained by adding together the reference marks on the several headlamps.
References to UN Regulations Nos. 148 and 149 (paras. 6.2.2., 6.3.9., 6.22.6.1.2.1., 6.22.9.1., 6.26.9.2.)
Paragraph 6.2.2. lists Classes B or D of the 00 series and Class C of the 01 and subsequent series of UN Regulation No. 149. Paragraphs 6.3.9., 6.22.6.1.2.1. and 6.22.9.1. now refer to UN Regulation No. 149 instead of “[RID]”, with new or changed item numbers of Annex 1. Paragraph 6.26.9.2. now refers to paragraph 5.10.2. of the 00 series or 5.10.1.2. of the 01 and subsequent series of UN Regulation No. 148. Before this supplement, it referred to “UN Regulation No. [LSD]”.
Manufacturer logos in lamps (paras. 2.1.7., 5.5.5. and 5.30.1.)
New paragraph 2.1.7. defines a “Manufacturer logo”: a graphic mark, emblem, word, or a combination of those elements. It is used to aid and promote public identification and recognition of a vehicle manufacturer's brand name. For lamps with a manufacturer logo, only two lateral logos (one on each side) or one central logo can be fitted on the rear. The same limit applies on the front of the vehicle (para. 5.5.5.). All logos that are not vehicle manufacturer or body manufacturer logos are prohibited. Especially for light-signalling lamps with a manufacturer logo, the lamp must be type approved according to UN Regulation No. 148 (para. 5.30.1.).
Driver Assistance Projection: definition and general provisions (paras. 2.7.8., 3.2.9. and 5.35.)
New paragraph 2.7.8. defines “Driver Assistance Projection” as a modification of the light distribution for driver assistance purposes. Where a system can provide driver assistance projections on the road, the manufacturer must provide a list of the patterns and symbols (para. 3.2.9.). Symbols and patterns must be related and limited only to warning/highlighting items (a) to (d) of paragraph 5.35.1., and the owner's handbook must explain them. The only symbols and patterns that may be used, and their associated underlying conditions, are listed in Annex 16 (para. 5.35.2.). It must always be possible to manually deactivate and reactivate the system that operates the projection (para. 5.35.3.). The projection must be deactivated automatically in case of an electrically detectable failure of the system that affects the visual information (para. 5.35.6.).
Driver Assistance Projection from the adaptive main beam and Annex 16 (paras. 6.22.9.3.2. to 6.22.9.3.2.4.)
The adaptive main beam may produce the Driver Assistance Projection to warn the driver appropriately regarding special traffic situations or conditions (para. 6.22.9.3.2.). The outer edges of the projection must be within 1,250 mm laterally of the trajectory of the vehicle's centre of gravity. The projection must not operate when the windshield wiper is switched ON and has operated continuously for at least two minutes. No flashing nor transforming of the projections is permitted, unless Annex 16 expressly allows it for the use cases described under its conditions. Annex 16 lists the slippery road, risk of collision, wrong way and lane keeping assist warnings. The risk of collision warning is triggered when the relative speed is above 30 km/h and the RCT is below 1.4 s.
Q2Why it changed
- Proposed by
- Informal Working Group on Simplification of Lighting and Light-Signalling Regulations (IWG SLR); expert from the International Automotive Lighting and Light Signalling Expert Group (GTB); expert from France and Germany
- Working party
- GRE, 85th session (October 2021)
Reasons
The requirement in paragraph 5.10. can be difficult to check when the lighting device or the vehicle has a complex shape. The old method is not performance oriented. It relates to the apparent surface, not to visible red or white light. For these cases, the proposal gives an alternative: measure the light output, instead of only a subjective approval. The 0.25 cd threshold is consistent between UN Regulations Nos. 148, 149 and 48.
Sources (4)
“IWG SLR wishes to clarify the requirement in paragraph 5.10. that can be difficult for the applicant or the type approval authority to verify in cases where the lighting device and/or the vehicle has a complex shape.”
“The existing method is not performance oriented. It does not relate to visible red or white light but to the apparent surface of the function which can cause confusion.”
“In these cases, we propose an alternative solution to measure the light output, instead of only a subjective approval.”
“This 0.25 cd threshold is consistent between UN Regulations Nos. 148, 149 and 48.”
With AFS, UN Regulation No. 48 already allows some additional contributors for the driving-beam. The proposal intends to extend this possibility to the driving-beam without AFS. The proposer states that the maximum intensity will always be limited by paragraph 6.1.9.1. With additional modules, the surface of the driving-beam increases and its luminance decreases, so an oncoming driver would not receive any additional glare.
Sources (5)
“In the current UN Regulation No. 48, it is already possible to have some additional contributors for the driving-beam (more than four) in relation with AFS requirements (paragraph 6.22.4.1.2.).”
“This proposal is intended to extend such a possibility to the driving-beam also without AFS (paragraph 6.1.).”
“The maximum intensity will be always limited by the requirements in paragraph 6.1.9.1.”
“In case of additional modules, the surface of the driving-beam will increase and its luminance will decrease.”
“Consequently, an oncoming driver would not receive any additional glare.”
The aim is to allow driver assistance projections on the road ahead of the vehicle, as part of the Adaptive Driving Beam (ADB). On request from some Contracting Parties, the maximum projection width was reduced from 1,875 mm to 1,250 mm per side. The aim is that other road users do not see the projected symbols or patterns. Because of concerns about disturbance from projections on wet surfaces, it has been decided to forbid the projection in case of wet road. This rule is intended as provisional, until further studies and suitable test procedures are available. The 30 km/h and 1.4 s values for the risk of collision warning are based on the requirements for the “Rear-end collision alert signal”.
Sources (5)
“with the aim to allow driver assistance projections, on the road ahead of the vehicle, as part of the Adaptive Driving Beam (ADB).”
“Upon request from some Contracting Parties, the maximum allowed projection width has been reduced (from the originally proposed 1,875 mm to 1,250 mm per side), to further ensure the non-visibility by other road users of the projected symbols/patterns.”
“Due to the concerns expressed by some Contracting Parties about the possible disturbance caused by the projections on wet surfaces, it has been decided to forbid the use of Driver Assitance Projection in case of wet road.”
“This requirement is intended as provisional, pending the availability of further studies on this matter and of suitable test procedures to evaluate the system from this point of view.”
“Regarding the “Risk of collision warning”, the relative speed larger than 30 km/h and the Risk of Collision Time less than 1.4 s were based on the existing requirements for the “Rear-end collision alert signal””
Depending on the design, self-illuminated logos may cause distraction, and in the old text the number and size of logos were not restricted. The proposers considered three options and chose to allow logos in a very restrictive way. With this choice, other logos, for example from automotive suppliers or only for advertising, are forbidden. The proposers state that this gives a clear threshold for approval that supports the type approval authorities and technical services.
Sources (4)
“Depending on the design, self-illuminated logos may nevertheless cause distraction. Indeed, in the existing UN Regulations, the number and size of logos in particular are not framed or restricted.”
“allow logos in a very restrictive way.”
“On the other hand, other logos, for example from automotive suppliers or only for advertising purpose, are automatically forbidden.”
“This establishes a clear threshold for approval that supports the type approval authorities and technical services in their work”
Proposer's reason (informal document GRE-85-23)
The experts from Germany stated that the original proposal for high beam headlamps would further complicate roadside inspections and periodic technical inspections. Germany is opposed to a further increase in the permissible number of high beam headlamps. For these reasons, the proposal was revised and modified.
Submitted by Experts from Germany. Working party adoption: ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/85, para. 17.
Sources (3)
“Should the original proposal for high beam headlamps come into force, this will result in a further complication with regard to the verification of the permissibility/compliance of the vehicles during roadside inspections”
“Germany (German government and federal states) is opposed to a further increase in the permissible number of high beam headlamps.”
“For these reasons, the proposal was revised and modified.”
Document trail
- 2021-08ProposalECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2021/16IWG SLR proposal for UN Regulation No. 48
- 2021-08ProposalECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2021/18GTB proposal on driver assistance projections
- 2021-08ProposalECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2020/5/Rev.2Revised proposal on manufacturer logos
- —Amended in sessionGRE-85-23Additional proposal by the experts from Germany
- —Amended in sessionGRE-85-33Changes from the 85th GRE session to the GTB proposal
- —Amended in sessionGRE-85-26Clarification on the scope of allowed logos
- —Working party adoptsECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/85GRE session report, paras. 17, 31 and 33
- 2022-04Sent to WP.29ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2022/89Text that GRE sent to WP.29 and AC.1
- 2022-06WP.29 adoptsECE/TRANS/WP.29/1166Adopted at the 187th session (session report, para. 182)
- 2023-01-04In forceC.N.469.2022.TREATIES-XI.B.16.48UN depositary notification
Q3Who is affected
Vehicle manufacturer
- Check your rear and front lamp installation against the new paragraphs 5.10.1. and 5.10.2.
- Check that each logo in your lamps is a vehicle manufacturer or body manufacturer logo (para. 5.5.5.).
- If your system can provide driver assistance projections on the road, provide the list of patterns and symbols (para. 3.2.9.).
- Demonstrate the 1,250 mm limit of paragraph 6.22.9.3.2.1. by calculation or other means the Type Approval Authority accepts.
Component supplier
- For a Driver Assistance Projection, use only the symbols and patterns listed in Annex 16 (para. 5.35.2.).
- Make sure the projection is deactivated automatically after an electrically detectable failure that affects the visual information (para. 5.35.6.).
- Make sure the projection is off when the wiper is ON and has operated continuously for at least two minutes.
Technical service / Approval authority
- In case of doubt, use the 0.25 cd per lamp criterion of paragraph 5.10.4.3., as verified during lamp type approval.
- During the test drive of paragraph 6.22.9.2.4., check that the Driver Assistance Projection causes no discomfort, distraction or glare.
- Evaluate the Driver Assistance Projection, if installed, in test sections A, B, C and E of Annex 12 (para. 2.8.).
- Check projected symbols and patterns against the use cases and conditions in Annex 16 (para. 6.22.9.3.2.3.).
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ⓘ This report gives advice only. It is not legal or type-approval advice.
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