The first international regulatory framework for autonomous vehicles.
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), through the World Forum for Harmonisation of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29), has approved the first international regulatory framework that allows the operation of fully autonomous vehicles.
This is the first global regulation for automated driving systems, a significant step forward that establishes uniform safety requirements and a common methodology for validating vehicles equipped with this technology, where until now there was no unified regulation. This milestone is an important step for the sector, as, in addition to the technological challenges, a specific regulatory framework is also needed to get started and resolve important questions, such as who is responsible in the event of an accident involving an autonomous car.
A step forward for the future.
The new regulation is based on a safety assessment approach and the implementation of a safety management system. This system requires manufacturers to establish safety governance and control processes that cover the entire vehicle lifecycle and are subject to audits. In this way, safety is no longer limited to the design phase but becomes a continuous process that must be maintained throughout the entire lifespan of the automated driving system.
Among the key elements of the regulation are the validation testing requirements, as manufacturers must demonstrate the reliability of the testing environments used, including simulation systems and virtual tools, which must meet strict credibility criteria. Furthermore, companies must provide structured evidence demonstrating that autonomous systems do not pose an unreasonable risk to safety.
It should be noted that monitoring of the operation of autonomous vehicles will continue even after they enter service. The regulations require the ongoing monitoring of the performance of automated systems and the communication of information about their operation to ensure continuous safety oversight under real-world operating conditions. To this end, vehicles must incorporate a data storage system that records relevant information related to the operation of automated driving.
As good as or better than a human driver.
According to UNECE standards, the performance of automated driving systems must equal or exceed that of a competent human driver. Since these systems fully assume the dynamic task of driving, including functions such as steering, accelerating, braking, using lights, and activating turn signals, manufacturers must demonstrate to the relevant authorities that the vehicles have been properly designed, validated, and tested. To this end, they will need to present the results obtained through simulations, closed-circuit tests, and real-world driving trials, as well as evidence demonstrating compliance with traffic regulations.
The new regulatory framework has been designed to adapt to different scenarios for the use of automated driving, from highways to urban environments, maintaining consistent safety levels while fostering technological innovation.
It has the backing of some of the world's leading automotive markets, including Canada, China, the European Union, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, providing a significant boost to its international adoption. The regulation will come into force approximately one month after its approval.
Along with this new regulation specifically for automated driving systems, Working Party 29 has approved amendments to around ninety United Nations regulations on vehicles. These amendments introduce clarifications to ensure that existing regulations remain applicable to vehicles equipped with ADS systems, including those that do away with traditional driver controls.
