UN R48 Supplement 1 (09 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 1 to the 09 series of amendments
Base text → Supplement 1
- What changed
- Annex 16 now includes a “Predicted trajectory” pattern for the Driver Assistance Projection, with its own width limits in new paragraph 5.35.12.1.
- The dipped-beam failure tell-tale may now, at the manufacturer's choice, be activated by a failure signal under UN Regulation No. 149, 01 or later series.
- Headlamp cleaning rules now say “for at least one headlamp” and “at least on one side” instead of “for each headlamp” and “per side”.
- Why
- The proposer states that the projection of a predicted trajectory will improve road safety by giving valuable assistance to the driver.
- Passing beams with many elements for visible radiation exist now, where the first failed element does not cause a lack of photometric performance.
- The headlamp cleaning text is meant to align UN Regulation No. 48 with UN Regulation No. 149 and adapt it to “matched pair” requirements.
Q1What changed16 changes
Predicted trajectory projection (paras. 5.35.10. to 5.35.13. and Annex 16)
Annex 16 now includes a “Predicted trajectory” pattern for the Driver Assistance Projection. Paragraph 5.35.10. now also excepts the predicted trajectory from the rule that the projection must not be switched ON below 65 km/h. Paragraph 5.35.11. now excepts it from the 1,250 mm limit on the lateral distance of the outer edges of the projection. For the predicted trajectory, paragraph 5.35.12.1. lets the projection be adapted to the predicted trajectory of the centre of gravity of the vehicle. It must not be wider than the vehicle, including any fitted accessories and trailer if applicable, and in any case not more than 2,600 mm. Paragraph 5.35.13. requires the manufacturer to show compliance with paragraphs 5.35.11. and 5.35.12.1. by calculation or by means that the Type Approval Authority accepts.
Tell-tale indicating failure (para. 6.2.8.2.)
Paragraph 6.2.8.2. now says “A tell-tale indicating failure” instead of “A visual failure tell-tale”. Under item (b), the tell-tale is now activated in one of two ways, at the discretion of the manufacturer. The first option, as before, is the failure of any one of the light source module(s) or non-replaceable light source(s) or UN approved light source(s). This applies to those producing the principal dipped beam, unless they are wired so that one failure makes all of them stop emitting light. The second option is a failure signal received under paragraph 4.13. of the 01 and any subsequent series of UN Regulation No. 149. Once activated, the tell-tale must in any case remain activated while the failure is present.
Headlamp cleaning for dipped-beam headlamps and AFS (paras. 6.2.9.2. and 6.22.9.1.)
Paragraph 6.2.9.2. now says “light source(s) and/or light source module(s)” instead of “a light source or LED module(s)”. The 2,000 lumen threshold for headlamp cleaning device(s) now applies to the total objective luminous flux “for at least one headlamp” instead of “for each headlamp”. For AFS, paragraph 6.22.9.1. now refers to the flux of the light source(s) and/or light source module(s) of the lighting units. The 2,000 lm limit now applies “at least on one side” instead of “per side”.
Aggregate maximum intensity of the main beam (paras. 6.1.9.1. and 6.22.9.5.)
Under paragraph 6.1.9.1., the reference value corresponding to the aggregate maximum intensity of main-beam headlamps that can be switched ON together must not exceed 100. Paragraph 6.22.9.5. sets a reference value limit of 100 for lighting units that can be energized together to provide the main-beam lighting or its modes. Before this supplement, both paragraphs set a limit of 430,000 cd, which corresponded to a reference value of 100.
Q2Why it changed
- Proposed by
- Experts from the International Automotive Lighting and Light-Signalling Expert Group (GTB)
- Working party
- GRE, 91st session (October 2024)
Reasons
The proposer states that the projection of a predicted trajectory will improve road safety by giving valuable assistance to the driver. This feature cannot be given to the driver by other means, such as a heads-up display or dashboard. During the eighty-seventh GRE session, a night demonstration showed predicted trajectory patterns with transformation. The Contracting Parties that took part recognized that this type of pattern did not distract the driver or other road users. The revised proposal was drafted to clarify the intention of the predicted trajectory projection and to avoid any unintended misuse.
Sources (3)
“The projection of a predicted trajectory will improve road safety by providing valuable assistance to the driver while driving the vehicle.”
“The Contracting Parties who took part in the night demonstration recognized that such type of pattern was not distractive for the driver nor for the other road users”
“This revised proposal has been drafted to clarify the intention of the predicted trajectory projection and to avoid any unintended misuse.”
In the past, the failure provisions for standard and AFS headlamps suited the technologies of that time. Passing beams made of a large number of elements for visible radiation are now available. In these beams, the failure of the first element does not lead to a lack of photometric performance. To take these new technologies into account, the failure requirements for passing beams that use multiple light sources need to be extended and improved. The proposal lets the tell-tale indicating failure in UN Regulation No. 48 also be triggered by the failure signal of UN Regulation No. 149.
Sources (3)
“passing beams constituted of a large number of elements for visible radiation are presently available, where a failure of any first of these does not consequentially lead to a lack of performance in photometric values.”
“the requirements regarding failures in passing beam using multiple light sources need to be extended and improved.”
“are modified so that a tell-tale indicating failure may also be triggered in the case that the signal indicating the failure is received according to paragraph 4.13. of UN Regulation No. 149.”
Under UN Regulation No. 149, 01 series, the communication form must state whether the dipped-beam flux exceeds 2,000 lumens. UN Regulation No. 48 referred only to a light source or LED module(s) for the dipped beam and to light sources of AFS lighting units. The proposal is intended to align UN Regulation No. 48 with these updated requirements. “LED module” is replaced by “light source module” for reasons of technological neutrality. The words “at least” in paragraphs 6.2.9.2. and 6.22.9.1. adapt these provisions to the “matched pair” requirements for headlamps and AFS.
Sources (3)
“require to indicate in the communication form whether or not the total objective luminous flux of one or more light source(s) or light source module(s) for a dipped beam exceeds 2,000 lumens.”
“The proposed modifications are intended to align the requirements in UN Regulation No. 48 with the updated requirements in the 01 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 149”
“is necessary to adapt the application of this provisions to the introduction of “matched pair” requirements for headlamps and AFS.”
UN Regulations Nos. 48 and 149 round the reference mark (I′M) to the nearest defined value. Because the steps between reference marks are uneven, the rounding error can be quite large in some cases. When the maximum luminous intensities are added, the total can then exceed the allowed maximum of 430,000 cd. The proposal removes the double requirement of a sum of reference marks and a sum of maximum luminous intensities. The aim is to avoid reducing the allowed peak intensity, which is relevant for the range of the driving beam.
Sources (2)
“the rounding error can be quite large under certain circumstances and, when the maximum luminous intensities are summed up, it is possible to have a total luminous intensity that exceeds the allowed maximum of 430,000 cd.”
“To avoid reducing the allowed peak intensity that is relevant for the range of the driving-beam, it is proposed to remove the double requirement of a sum of reference marks and a sum of maximum luminous intensities.”
Document trail
- 2024-02ProposalECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2024/3GTB proposal to align UN Regulation No. 48 with UN Regulation No. 149
- 2024-02ProposalECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2024/5GTB proposal on the aggregate maximum intensity of the main-beam headlamps
- —RevisedGRE-90-10GTB text that replaces the main-beam proposal and extends it to the AFS paragraph 6.22.9.5.
- —Working party adoptsECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/90GRE session report, paras. 13 and 32: adopted in principle, submission postponed
- 2024-08ProposalECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2024/15Revised GTB proposal to allow a pattern for predicted trajectory
- 2024-08ProposalECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2024/22GTB proposal on failure detection and signalisation for multiple light sources
- —Working party adoptsECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/91GRE session report, paras. 15, 24 and 27
- 2024-12Sent to WP.29ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2025/36Text that GRE sent to WP.29 and AC.1
- 2025-03WP.29 adoptsECE/TRANS/WP.29/1184Adopted at the 195th session (session report, para. 109)
- 2025-09-26In forceC.N.513.2025.TREATIES-XI.B.16.48UN depositary notification
Q3Who is affected
Vehicle manufacturer
- Keep a predicted trajectory projection not wider than the vehicle with its fitted accessories and trailer, if applicable.
- In any case, keep a predicted trajectory projection not more than 2,600 mm wide (para. 5.35.12.1.).
- Show compliance with paragraphs 5.35.11. and 5.35.12.1. by calculation or by other means accepted by the Type Approval Authority.
- Choose one of the two options of item (b) that activate the tell-tale indicating failure (para. 6.2.8.2.).
- Check whether your headlamps or AFS now need headlamp cleaning under the changed paragraphs 6.2.9.2. and 6.22.9.1.
- Make sure the reference value for main-beam headlamps that can be switched ON together does not exceed 100 (para. 6.1.9.1.).
Component supplier
- Be ready to provide the failure signal of paragraph 4.13. of UN Regulation No. 149, 01 or later series.
Technical service / Approval authority
- Under paragraph 5.35.13., check the calculation or other means that shows compliance with paragraphs 5.35.11. and 5.35.12.1.
- For a predicted trajectory projection, do not apply the 65 km/h minimum speed for switching ON of paragraph 5.35.10.
- Check the main-beam limit against the reference value of 100, not against 430,000 cd (paras. 6.1.9.1. and 6.22.9.5.).
- Check that the tell-tale indicating failure is activated by the option that the manufacturer chose (para. 6.2.8.2.).
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ⓘ This report gives advice only. It is not legal or type-approval advice.
More UN R48 change reports
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- 09 series — Base text
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- 08 series — Supplement 4
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- 07 series — Supplement 6
- 07 series — Supplement 5
- 07 series — Supplement 4
- 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
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- 06 series — Supplement 17
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- 06 series — Supplement 14
- 06 series — Supplement 13
- 06 series — Supplement 12
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