UN R48 Supplement 4 (07 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 4 to the 07 series of amendments
Supplement 3 → 4
- What changed
- Manoeuvring lamps are now optional on trailers as well as on motor vehicles (para. 6.26.1.).
- Trailer manoeuvring lamps must take their input speed directly from the trailer. They cannot be activated unless the trailer's position lamps are switched ON at the same time.
- Trailer manoeuvring lamps must be switched ON automatically for slow manoeuvres up to 15 km/h, provided that one of three conditions is fulfilled. They must be switched OFF automatically if the forward speed of the trailer exceeds 15 km/h.
- Why
- The proposal intends to improve the all-round visibility of trailers and vehicle combinations, to reduce the risk of low-speed manoeuvring accidents in low light conditions.
- UN Regulation No. 48 did not allow manoeuvring lamps on trailers at type approval.
- For compatibility in vehicle combinations, the trailer lamps take their speed input directly from the trailer and not from the towing vehicle.
Q1What changed9 changes
Manoeuvring lamps on trailers (para. 6.26.1.)
Manoeuvring lamps are optional on motor vehicles and trailers. Before this supplement, paragraph 6.26.1. said “Optional on motor vehicles.”
Connection and input speed of trailer manoeuvring lamps (para. 6.26.7.)
Paragraph 6.26.7. now has a part for trailers. Trailer manoeuvring lamps must be connected so that they cannot be activated unless the trailer's position lamps are switched ON at the same time. They must take their input speed directly from the trailer.
Automatic switching of trailer manoeuvring lamps (para. 6.26.7.)
Trailer manoeuvring lamps must be switched ON automatically for slow manoeuvres up to 15 km/h, provided that one of three conditions is fulfilled. Condition (a) applies before the trailer is set in motion for the first time after each manual activation of the vehicle propulsion system. Condition (b) is that the reverse lamp is switched ON, and condition (c) is that a camera-based system which assists parking manoeuvres is operating. The lamps must be switched OFF automatically if the forward speed of the trailer exceeds 15 km/h. They must stay switched OFF until the switch ON conditions are met again.
Wording for motor vehicles (para. 6.26.7.)
In paragraph 6.26.7., the rule that links manoeuvring lamps to the main-beam or dipped-beam headlamps now starts with “Motor vehicles:”. It now says the headlamps “of the motor vehicle”. In condition (c), “camera based system” is now written “camera-based system”.
Q2Why it changed
- Proposed by
- International Association of the Body and Trailer Building Industry (CLCCR)
- Working party
- GRE, 86th session (April 2022)
Reasons
The proposal intends to improve the all-round visibility of trailers and vehicle combinations. The aim is to reduce the risk of low-speed manoeuvring accidents in low light conditions.
Source
“intends to improve the all-round visibility of trailers and vehicle combinations so to mitigate the risk of low-speed manoeuvring accidents in low light conditions”
UN Regulation No. 48 did not allow manoeuvring lamps on trailers at type approval. Manoeuvring lamps give supplementary illumination to the side of the vehicle to assist during slow-speed manoeuvres.
Sources (2)
“UN Regulation No. 48 does not allow the installation of manoeuvring lamps on trailers at the point of type approval.”
“Manoeuvring lamps are used to provide supplementary illumination to the side of the vehicle to assist during slow-speed manoeuvres.”
An increasing number of companies and freight operators across the EU were installing manoeuvring lamps on trailers and vehicle combinations after registration. They did this to give the driver and other workers better all-round visibility near low-speed manoeuvring vehicles. This is particularly relevant when reversing with a long trailer.
Sources (3)
“An increasing number of companies and freight operators across the EU are installing manoeuvring lamps to trailers and vehicle combinations as a ‘post-registration’ installation”
“to provide better all-round visibility for the driver (and other workers) when in close proximity to low-speed manoeuvring vehicles”
“This is particularly relevant when reversing with a long trailer.”
For compatibility in vehicle combinations, the trailer lamps must take their speed input directly from the trailer and not from the towing vehicle.
Source
“To ensure vehicle combination compatibility, the lamps are required to take their speed input directly from the trailer (and not the towing vehicle).”
Document trail
- 2022-02ProposalECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2022/5CLCCR proposal to permit manoeuvring lamps on trailers
- —Working party adoptsECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/86GRE session report, para. 18
- 2022-08Sent to WP.29ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2022/113Text that GRE sent to WP.29 and AC.1
- 2022-11WP.29 adoptsECE/TRANS/WP.29/1168Adopted at the 188th session (session report, para. 138)
- 2023-06-05In forceC.N.165.2023.TREATIES-XI.B.16.48UN depositary notification
Q3Who is affected
Vehicle manufacturer
- If you fit manoeuvring lamps on a trailer, make sure that they take their input speed directly from the trailer.
- Connect trailer manoeuvring lamps so that they cannot be activated unless the trailer's position lamps are also switched ON.
- Make sure that trailer manoeuvring lamps switch OFF automatically if the forward speed of the trailer exceeds 15 km/h.
- Test the automatic switch ON of trailer manoeuvring lamps under each of the three conditions (a), (b) and (c).
- Update the documents that quote the rules for the electrical connections of manoeuvring lamps. These rules now have a “Motor vehicles:” part and a “Trailers:” part.
Component supplier
- If you supply manoeuvring lamps for trailers, design them to take their input speed directly from the trailer.
Technical service / Approval authority
- Check that trailer manoeuvring lamps cannot be activated unless the trailer's position lamps are switched ON at the same time.
- Check that trailer manoeuvring lamps take their input speed directly from the trailer.
- Check that trailer manoeuvring lamps switch OFF automatically if the forward speed of the trailer exceeds 15 km/h.
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ⓘ This report gives advice only. It is not legal or type-approval advice.
More UN R48 change reports
- 09 series — Supplement 4
- 09 series — Supplement 3
- 09 series — Supplement 2
- 09 series — Supplement 1
- 09 series — Base text
- 08 series — Supplement 9
- 08 series — Supplement 8
- 08 series — Supplement 7
- 08 series — Supplement 6
- 08 series — Supplement 5
- 08 series — Supplement 4
- 08 series — Supplement 3
- 08 series — Supplement 2
- 08 series — Supplement 1
- 08 series — Base text
- 07 series — Supplement 11
- 07 series — Supplement 10
- 07 series — Supplement 9
- 07 series — Supplement 8
- 07 series — Supplement 7
- 07 series — Supplement 6
- 07 series — Supplement 5
- 07 series — Supplement 3
- 07 series — Supplement 2
- 07 series — Supplement 1
- 07 series — Base text
- 06 series — Supplement 24
- 06 series — Supplement 23
- 06 series — Supplement 22
- 06 series — Supplement 21
- 06 series — Supplement 20
- 06 series — Supplement 19
- 06 series — Supplement 18
- 06 series — Supplement 17
- 06 series — Supplement 16
- 06 series — Supplement 15
- 06 series — Supplement 14
- 06 series — Supplement 13
- 06 series — Supplement 12
- 06 series — Supplement 11