Press Release

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Geneva, 18 November 2004 - More than 20 nations have agreed on a new standard that will lead to safer vehicles worldwide. This regulation establishes the first global international vehicle safety standard.

The new door retention standard is the result of three years of intensive research, development and negotiations supported by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). On the horizon are many additional standards that will regulate head restraints, motorcycle brakes, the installation of lighting devices, vehicle window glazing and pedestrian safety.

“Today in Geneva we have witnessed a new milestone toward the improvement of road traffic safety throughout the world,” said José Capel Ferrer, Director of the UNECE Transport Division. “We are optimistic that this will be the first in a long series of such global regulations, which will also improve the environmental performance of vehicles at the global level.”

Ultimately, the new global standards, known as “Global Technical Regulations,” or GTR’s, will lead to the adoption of best safety practices from all participating nations. In the end, reduced design and engineering costs should mean lower production costs for manufacturers and savings for consumers.

“This pioneering achievement paves the way for future vehicle improvements for motorists around the world,” said Jeffrey W. Runge, M.D., Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the United States, which led the work group that developed the door retention standard.

The new door retention regulation is the first global vehicle safety and environmental standard to be established under “The 1998 Global Agreement,” an accord reached by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), which includes many countries from around the world.

Earlier today, at the 134th session of the World Forum for the Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations, countries that signed the 1998 Agreement voted to establish the proposed standard, designed to improve door locks and door retention systems to help prevent injury and death due to passenger ejection.

Among other elements, the new global standard will strengthen safety requirements and test procedures for sliding doors used on many passenger vehicles.

Inadvertent door openings are often caused by a combination of forces during a crash, which result in structural failures in the latch system and hinges. In the U.S. alone, about 42,000 door openings or failures occur every year. Door openings present a serious risk of injury or death to vehicle occupants, particularly if they are unbelted.

For additional information please contact:

Mr. Jose Capel Ferrer, Director,
UNECE Transport Division
Palais des Nations
CH – 1211 Geneva 10

Phone: +41(0)22 917 24 01
Fax: +41(0)22 917 00 39
E-mail: [email protected]

Web site: http://www.unece.org/trans

Ref: ECE/TRANS/04/P04