INTERNATIONAL HARMONIZATION OF SAFETY REGULATIONS RELATING TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROAD VEHICLES

The increasingly international nature of the motor industry and the desire for free access to world markets are major considerations which argue forcibly in favour of international harmonozation of technical regulations concerning road vehicles. International harmonization of technical provisions will lead to a substantial saving in manufacturing and administrative costs and will, in addition, promote the concept of the world car, thus facilitating entry into world markets and reduce the price of the vehicle to the customer. Top priority should be accorded to those safety matters where differences between existing or envisaged national and multinational technical regulations make an important and otherwise avoidable call on the resources of the motor industry. If full advantage is to be derived from any venture to harmonize technical standards, administrative systems for implementing the harmonized safety regulations must also be unified. In order to achieve harmonization, participating governments must adopt a constructive approach and be prepared to accept compromise solutions. Due to the difficulties which may be anticipated in reaching worldwide agreement on performance levels, initial efforts should be concentrated on harmonizing test procedures and test equipment. If harmonization studies are to be conducted in an efficient coordinated manner a suitable forum is required with adequate finance and staffing. Governments should also look increasingly to other areas not related to vehicle construction where improvements and standardization are desirable in an effort to prevent accidents. Taxation, driver licensing, vehicle insurance, tariff structures, can also have a significant influence on vehicle design and call for close examination by a suitable competent body or bodies as part of an overall harmonization effort. The success of any international harmonization effort depends, in the main, on the following: (1) a clear understanding and agreement on the objectives; (2) a spirit of compromise and a firm resolve on the part of all participants to achieve the objectives; (3) the existence of a suitable, adequately financed organization operating under appropriate terms of reference and rules of procedure; (4) the establishment of a realistic programme of work with priorities and target dates for completion of studies.(a)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/03861112
• Corporate Authors:

  International Association of Traffic and Safety Sciences

  6-20, Yaesu 2-chome, Chuo-ku
  Tokyo 104-0028,   Japan 
• Authors:
  • Phelps, J L
• Publication Date: 1988

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 7-12
• Serial:
  • IATSS Research
  • Volume: 12
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: International Association of Traffic and Safety Sciences
  • ISSN: 0386-1112

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Design; International; Legislation; Safety; Specifications; Standardization; Vehicles
• ITRD Terms: 9011: Design (overall design); 9034: International; 1556: Legislation; 1665: Safety; 177: Specifications; 9075: Standardization; 1255: Vehicle
• Subject Areas: Design; Law; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00498928
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Files: ITRD, TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: Sep 30 1990 12:00AM