Semi-automated driving functionalities are becoming increasingly popular. On 17 September, UNECE hosted a demonstration of vehicles’ automated parking systems in the park of the Palais des Nations. Participants witnessed how the Remote Control Parking (RCP) system allows drivers to get out of their car during the parking manoeuvre and control the car’s motion via their smartphone or a smart key.

The automotive industry is ready to market this system and is requesting regulators such as the World Forum for the harmonization vehicle regulations, serviced by UNECE, to allow such systems. The technical boundaries of such systems were discussed this week by the World Forum’s Working Party on Active Safety (GRRF), with the aim of ensuring that the benefits of these new technologies can be captured without compromising safety.

Automated driving was the key issue discussed by the Ministers of Transport of the G7 in their meeting on 16 September at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

In their declaration, the transport ministers of the G7 States and the European Commissioner for Transport stressed that “A key prerequisite for the widespread deployment of innovative and reliable technologies in road transport is that modern vehicle systems are legally permissible and suitable for mass production. Revising, as appropriate, regulations applicable in the G7 states, and those established under the agreements administered by the UN World Forum for the Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (Working Party 29) - is of crucial importance.”