September 2, 1999
Concerning expansion of devices subject to mutual recognition based on
the UN/ECE 1958 Agreement on Mutual Recognition of Type Approval for Vehicles, etc.Amendment of regulations for vehicle body, etc.
applicable to individual import vehicles, etc.
At the Ministry of Transport, devices subject to mutual recognition based on the UN/ECE 1958 Agreement on Mutual Recognition of Type Approval for Vehicles, etc., (abbreviated title) to which Japan became a signatory in November of 1998, will be expanded and regulations for vehicle body or other devices applicable to individual import vehicles, etc., will be revised. Accordingly, partial amendments are scheduled for "Safety Regulations for Road Vehicles" (MOT Ordinance 67, 1951), and for "Regulations for Motor Vehicle Equipment Type Designation" (MOT Ordinance 66, 1998). Consequently, the opinions of a wide range of concerned individuals, both inside and outside Japan, concerning the amendments are hereby called for in the following format.
<Essentials of Public Call for Opinions>
1. Subject of call for opinions
Partial amendment of Safety Regulations for Road Vehicles, etc. (Items in Attachments I 2,3 and II 2)
2. Forwarding of opinions
Select any one of the following methods for making reply. Be sure to include your name, address, profession (name of company or organization) and telephone number.
(1) By facsimile
Facsimile number: 03-3581-1454
Address message to: Office of International Affairs, Engineering and Planning Division, Engineering and Safety Department, Road Transport Bureau, MOT
(2) By postal mail
2-1-3 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8989
Address message to: Office of International Affairs, Engineering and Planning Division, Engineering and Safety Department, Road Transport Bureau, MOT
(3) By electronic mail
E-mail address: JDG-GIJUTU@so.motnet.go.jp
Address message to: Office of International Affairs, Engineering and Planning Division, Engineering and Safety Department, Road Transport Bureau, MOT
Use text format to send opinions by e-mail.
3. Time period
Opinions must be received by Monday, October 4, 1999.
* Please note that opinions received might be disclosed to the public, except for the donor's address and telephone number.
4. Explanatory meeting
Explanatory meeting covering the details of amendments will be held as follows. Those who wish to attend are requested to contact MOT beforehand.
Date and time: September 8 (Wednesday) 10:00-12:00
Location: Conference Room, High Marine Accidents Inquiry Agency, MOT
(Room 1121, 11th floor at MOT )
Address inquiries to:
Nishida, Hirasawa: Engineering and Planning Division,
Sekiguchi, Hashimoto: Vehicle and Component Approvals Division Engineering and Safety Department,
Road Transport Bureau, MOT
Telephone 03-3580-3111 (extension 6536 or 6534)
03-3580-5701 (direct)
Attachment
Concerning Partial Amendment of Safety Regulations for Road Vehicles
Expansion of devices subject to mutual recognition based on
the UN/ECE 1958 Agreement on Mutual Recognition of Type Approval for Vehicles, etc.Amendment of regulations for vehicle body, etc.
applicable to individual import vehicles, etc.
September 1999
Engineering and Planning Division,
Vehicle and Component Approvals Division
Engineering and Safety Department
Road Transport Bureau, MOT
I. Expansion of devices subject to mutual recognition based on the UN/ECE 1958 Agreement on Mutual Recognition of Type Approval for Vehicles, etc.
1. Amendment Background
In order to adjust to an expansion in international distribution of motor vehicle devices in recent years, Japan acceded to the UN/ECE 1958 Agreement on Mutual Recognition of Type Approval for Vehicles, etc. (abbreviated title) (hereinafter referred to as "Agreement" in November 1998 for the purpose of standards harmonization and mutual recognition of approvals on devices. In any contracting parties to the agreement, vehicle devices which have received type approval (note) according to regulations (hereinafter "ECE Regulations" formulated for each motor vehicle device based on the Agreement are exempted from testing in any other signatory country where the ECE Regulations are adopted.
(Note) Article 75-2 of the Road Vehicles Act (Act No. 185 of 1951) stipulates that the Minister of Transport can designate types for motor vehicle devices. Devices which have thus been designated can be exempted from testing for compliance with Safety Regulations when the entire vehicle body is type designated.
At present, 110 ECE Regulations have been formulated. The following 13 items under 5 regulations are listed as subjects of mutual recognition based on the Agreement in Japan.
*Three types of reflex reflector including rear reflectors (ECE Regulation No. 3)
*Six types of lamp including brake lamps (ECE Regulation No. 7)
*Brake devices for passenger vehicles carrying less than 10 people (ECE Regulation No. 13-H)
*Front fog lamp (ECE Regulation No. 19)
*Audible warning devices and alarm sound generating devices (ECE Regulation No. 28)
With respect to six items mentioned in 2. below, amendments will be made in the Safety Regulations for Road Vehicles (MOT Ordinance 67 in 1951) and in Regulations for Motor Vehicle Equipment Type Designation (MOT Ordinance 66 in 1998), so that these items become subjects of mutual recognition based on the Agreement.
As for adoption of ECE Regulations in the future, the Ministry of Transport aims to adopt approximately 30 regulations by the end of the fiscal year 2003, and has scheduled adoption of about 5 or 6 regulations each year. Selections for adoption will be made each time on a priority basis in light of considerations such as requests from both inside and outside Japan, provisions for which there are few variations in regulations and provisions which permit rationalization of testing.
2. Outline of partial amendments of Safety Regulations for Road Vehicles
The following 6 items are scheduled to become subjects of mutual recognition under the Agreement and steps are being taken to coordinate each ECE Regulation with Safety Regulations for Road Vehicles: Direction indicator lamp (ECE Regulation No. 6); Reversing lamp (ECE Regulation No. 23); Emergency stop indication device (ECE Regulation No. 27); Rear fog lamp (ECE Regulation No. 38); Locking devices for two-wheeled vehicles, etc. (ECE Regulation No. 62); and Occupant protective devices during lateral collisions (ECE Regulation No. 95). In view of the fact that ECE Regulation No. 48, which stipulates such things as the required positions for installation of lighting devices, etc., was revised in February 1999; the required range of visibility, for instance, stipulated in ECE Regulation No. 48 will be made compatible with Safety Regulations for Road Vehicles covering such things as lighting devices currently subject to mutual recognition and lighting devices that will be subject to mutual recognition in the future.
In particular, the following amendments will be made.
(1) Direction indicator lamp (except for indicators at the central sides of large vehicles)
Required visibility range and other additions will be made. Steps will also be taken to coordinate this requirement with the Geometric visibility requirement stipulated in ECE Regulation No. 48.
(2) Reversing lamp
Amendment will be made covering required luminous intensity; for example, that the illuminating light rays must not interfere with other traffic. This amendment will also be coordinated with the required visibility range stipulated in ECE Regulation No. 48.
(3) Emergency stop indication device
Dimension requirements etc. shall be amended to be harmonized with ECE Regulation No.27.
(4) Rear fog lamp
Amendment will be made covering required illumination; for example, that the illuminating light rays must not interfere with other traffic. This amendment will also be coordinated with the Geometric visibility requirement stipulated in ECE Regulation No. 48 , with the Electrical connections requirement and with the Install positions requirement.
(5) Locking devices
Amendments such as the following will be made: with respect to locking devices equipped on three-wheeled motor vehicles (limited to vehicles with bar type steering wheels), locking devices will be allowed even if the starting device can be operated while the locking device is in operation.
(6) Occupant protective devices during lateral collisions (provisional title)
Changes in the scope of application, as indicated in the table below, and other amendments will be made.
·
Outline of amendments in scope of application
After amendment
Current
Passenger vehicle
Riding capacity of less than 10 persons
Riding capacity of less than 11 persons
Truck
Gross vehicle weight 3.5 tons or less
Gross vehicle weight 2.8 tons or less
(Note) Applicable vehicles are limited to those with a seat height of 700 mm or less from ground level.
(7) Front fog lamp
Amendments will be made to harmonize with required visibility range stipulated in ECE Regulation No. 48 and with requirements for installation of indicators of lamp operating conditions.
(8) Clearance lamp and tail lamp
Amendments will be made to harmonize with required display of lamp operating conditions as stipulated in ECE Regulation No. 48.
(9) Front reflector, side reflector and rear reflector
Amendments will be made to harmonize with the Geometric visibility requirement stipulated in ECE Regulation No. 48.
(10) Clearance lamp, tail lamp and stop lamp on special large or small vehicles
Since the Geometric visibility requirement is not stipulated in ECE Regulation No. 48 for special large or small vehicles, this requirement does not apply for clearance lamp, tail lamp or stop lamp on special large or small vehicles.
3. Outline of partial amendment of Regulations for Motor Vehicle Equipment Type Designation
Amendments such as the following will be made: with respect to devices (1) to (6) mentioned above, additions will be made to special devices for which type designations are made as stipulated in Regulations for Motor Vehicle Equipment Type Designation so that these devices become subjects of mutual recognition under the Agreement.
II. Amendment of regulations for vehicle body, etc. applicable to individual import vehicles, etc.
1. Background
Respecting safety regulations for motor vehicle body, etc., in judging compliance with Safety Regulations, it is assumed that actual vehicle destruction tests have been performed. However, if an actual vehicle destruction test were performed on an individual imported vehicle, for instance, that vehicle could not be used subsequently and a heavy burden would be placed on its user.
2. Amendment contents
With respect to standards on collision of vehicle body, etc., of individual import vehicles, since these standards aim to protect passengers and do not cover damages to third parties, in the interest of reducing the burden on vehicle users and of informing the vehicle users, the following amendments have been made to the system .
(1) With respect to individual imported vehicles, etc., the conventional regulation based on an actual vehicle destruction test will be revised to a regulation so that compliance of individual imported vehicles with regulations can be judged by structural examinations, for instance, without performing vehicle destruction tests.
(2) In view of the fact that, in general, actual vehicle destruction tests are performed when judging compliance with regulations on vehicle body, etc., for vehicles not covered by regulations based on the actual vehicle destruction test, the fact thereof shall be noted in the "Remarks" column of the vehicle inspection certificate so that the vehicle users will be informed.
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