UN R74 Supplement 1 (03 series) · UNECE Regulation No. 74 (ECE R74) — Uniform provisions concerning the approval of category L1 vehicles with regard to the installation of lighting and light-signalling devices.
UN R74 — Supplement 1 to the 03 series of amendments
Base text → Supplement 1
- What changed
- For vehicles with a maximum design speed not exceeding 25 km/h, the 300 mm limit for rear indicators in length (para. 6.8.3.3.) does not apply.
- For vehicles with a maximum design speed not exceeding 25 km/h, the rear indicators may also move in line with the steering angle (para. 6.8.5.).
- For vehicles with a maximum design speed not exceeding 25 km/h, category 11 front indicators may be grouped or combined with category 12 rear indicators. The centres of reference of the two rear indicators installed in handlebars must be at least 550 mm apart (para. 6.8.6.1.).
- Why
- The proposal aims to enable the approval of a front and rear indicator that can be activated at the same time.
- In some Contracting Parties to the 1958 Agreement, category L1 also includes bicycles with an electric auxiliary drive. On these vehicles, it is difficult to fit the rear direction indicators at the rear.
- The 300 mm limit (para. 6.8.3.3.) prevented UN Regulation No. 148 approval of a device with front and rear indicators that can be activated simultaneously.
Q1What changed3 changes
Rear indicators: 300 mm limit in length (para. 6.8.3.3.)
Paragraph 6.8.3.3. adds that its 300 mm limit does not apply to vehicles with a maximum design speed not exceeding 25 km/h. The 300 mm limit applies to the forward distance between the rear indicators' centre of reference and the rearmost limit of the vehicle's over-all length. For other vehicles, the 300 mm limit is the same as before.
Rear indicators that may move with the steering angle (para. 6.8.5.)
For vehicles with a maximum design speed not exceeding 25 km/h, the rear indicators may also move in line with the steering angle. Before this supplement, paragraph 6.8.5. gave this permission to the front indicators only. The permission for the front indicators does not change.
Front and rear indicators grouped or combined, and a 550 mm minimum distance (new para. 6.8.6.1.)
For vehicles with a maximum design speed not exceeding 25 km/h, category 11 front indicators may be grouped or combined with category 12 rear indicators. The centres of reference of the two rear indicators installed in handlebars must be at least 550 mm apart. Both rules are in new paragraph 6.8.6.1.
Q2Why it changed
- Proposed by
- Experts from Germany
- Working party
- GRE, 90th session (April–May 2024)
Reasons
The proposal aims to enable the approval of a front and rear indicator that can be activated at the same time.
Sources (2)
“with the aim to enable the approval of a front and rear indicator which can be activated simultaneously”
“The expert from Germany submitted amendment proposals that enabled the approval of front and rear direction indicators which could be activated simultaneously”
Paragraph 6.8.3.3. did not allow a rear indicator whose centre of reference was more than 300 mm from the rearmost limit of the vehicle. As a result, a device with front and rear indicators that can be activated simultaneously could not be approved to UN Regulation No. 148.
Sources (2)
“does not allow the installation of a rear indicator if the distance from the centre of reference of this device to the transvers plane, which constitutes the rearmost limit of the vehicle’s overall length, exceeds 300 mm”
“As a consequence of this requirement the approval according to UN Regulation No. 148 of a device containing a front and rear indicator which can be activated simultaneously is not allowed.”
In some Contracting Parties to the 1958 Agreement, category L1 also includes bicycles with an electric auxiliary drive. Because of the general design of these vehicles, it is difficult to fit the rear direction indicators at the rear. Field tests show that these vehicles reach steering angles of no more than 3° in normal use. With appropriate consideration of road safety, the proposal says that it seems acceptable to install optional rear direction indicators at the end of the handlebars.
Sources (4)
“In some contracting parties to the 1958 Agreement category L1 also includes bicycles with an electric auxiliary drive.”
“Due to the general design of these vehicles, it is difficult to fit the rear direction indicators to the rear of the vehicle.”
“such vehicles only achieve steering angles of maximum 3° during normal condition of use”
“Therefore, with appropriate consideration of road safety, it seems acceptable to install optional rear direction indicators at the end of the handlebars.”
The proposal makes a minimum distance of 550 mm between the centres of reference of optional rear indicators in the handlebars mandatory, for geometric visibility. In this way, the proposal says, recognition and visibility can be ensured.
Sources (2)
“In order to ensure geometric visibility, the minimum distance of 550 mm between the center of reference of the optional rear indicator installed in handelbars will become mandatory for this type of installation.”
“In this way, recognition and visibility can be ensured.”
Germany sees a need to allow the installation of optional direction indicators on bicycles at national level. Here, bicycles include vehicles with a maximum design speed not exceeding 25 km/h. Germany gives two reasons: safety, and to be in line with the 02 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 74.
Sources (2)
“For reasons of safety and in order to be in line with the 02 series of amendment to UN Regulation No. 74”
“Germany sees the necessity to allow the installation of optional direction indicators at national level on bicycles (including vehicles with a maximum design speed not exceeding 25 km/h)”
Document trail
- 2024-02ProposalECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2024/9Proposal by the experts from Germany for the 90th GRE session
- —RevisedGRE-90-15-Rev.1Revised proposal by the experts from Germany and France that replaces ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/2024/9
- —Working party adoptsECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRE/90Session report, para. 20: adopted as amended by GRE-90-15-Rev.1
- 2024-08Sent to WP.29ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2024/91Text that GRE sent to WP.29 and AC.1
- 2024-11WP.29 adoptsECE/TRANS/WP.29/1181Adopted at the 194th session (session report, para. 158)
- 2025-06-12In forceC.N.304.2025.TREATIES-XI.B.16.74UN depositary notification
Q3Who is affected
Vehicle manufacturer
- Use the new rear-indicator options only if the maximum design speed of the vehicle does not exceed 25 km/h.
- Keep the centres of reference of two rear indicators in the handlebars at least 550 mm apart (para. 6.8.6.1.).
Component supplier
- If you supply grouped or combined category 11 and 12 indicators, tell customers the 25 km/h condition of paragraph 6.8.6.1.
- Give the vehicle manufacturer the centre of reference of each rear indicator for handlebar installation (para. 6.8.6.1.).
Technical service / Approval authority
- Accept the exception to the 300 mm limit (para. 6.8.3.3.) only for a maximum design speed not exceeding 25 km/h.
- Accept rear indicators that move with the steering angle only for a maximum design speed not exceeding 25 km/h.
- For rear indicators in the handlebars, check that their centres of reference are at least 550 mm apart.
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ⓘ This report gives advice only. It is not legal or type-approval advice.