After a decade of technological maturation and regulatory groundwork — and two years of intensive drafting — the UNECE Working Party on Automated/Autonomous and Connected Vehicles (GRVA) has adopted a draft Global Technical Regulation (GTR) on Automated Driving Systems (ADS).

The Draft has been adopted by the UNECE Working Party on Automated/Autonomous and Connected Vehicles (GRVA) during its 19-23 January 2026 meeting.

Highlights

The draft regulation aims to foster innovation while ensuring a high level of road safety. It introduces a comprehensive framework for vehicles equipped with Automated Driving Systems (ADS). When the ADS is active, it performs the full tactical and operational functions required to operate the vehicle.

A central principle of the regulation states that:

ADS must be free from unreasonable safety risk and perform at least at the level of a competent and careful human driver.

According to the regulation this concept is key to minimize unreasonable safety risks to both vehicle and road user(s).

Key Features of the regulation

Safety Management System (SMS)
Manufacturers must implement a lifecycle-based safety management system covering development, production, deployment, and post-deployment monitoring. The SMS is subject to audit.

Testing Credibility Framework
The regulation introduces requirements to demonstrate the credibility of validation methods, including simulation toolchains, track testing, and real-world testing.

Safety Case Requirement
Manufacturers must submit a structured safety case — including claims, arguments, and supporting evidence — demonstrating that the ADS meets outcome-focused requirements and is free from unreasonable risk.

In-Service Monitoring and Reporting (ISMR)
A structured monitoring and reporting regime requires manufacturers to report critical and significant occurrences, creating a regulatory feedback loop.

Data Storage System for Automated Driving (DSSAD)
Vehicles must be equipped with systems capable of recording safety-relevant ADS performance data.

Background and Next Steps

The draft GTR builds upon:

• The WP.29  Framework Document on Automated Vehicles of 2022, and
• The Guidelines and recommendation for ADS requirements, assessments and test methods to inform regulatory development

The draft will be submitted to the UNECE World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) for consideration at its 23–26 June 2026 session.

Before then, GRVA is expected to finalize technical provisions related to ADS data collection.

If adopted by WP.29 and AC.3 under the 1998 Agreement, the GTR would be formally established, after which Contracting Parties may incorporate it into their domestic legislation.

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Source: The press release was published here