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Working Party on Passive Safety - Introduction

 The Working Party on Passive Safety (GRSP) is the subsidiary body of the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) that prepares regulatory proposals on passive safety to WP.29.  This group of experts conducts research and analysis to develop passive safety requirements for vehicles.

GRSP convenes officially twice a year and entrusts informal groups with specific problems that need to be solved urgently or that require special expertise.  More than 80 experts participate at the sessions of GRSP.

The Working Party is open to the governmental experts from any member country of the United Nations, and to any regional economic integration organization set up by member countries of the United Nations, and to experts of governmental organizations. Experts of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) may participate in a consultative capacity.  Final decisions are taken by Government representatives by vote at the World Forum WP.29 level.

The work of GRSP experts is transparent: All agendas, working documents and reports are openly accessible on this Internet website.

Last achievements:

GRSP devised a new Regulation on Child Restraint Systems (CRS) introducing a new philosophy of restraining children on cars.
The regulation, adopted during WP 29’s 158th session held in Geneva from 13-16 November 2012, will enter into force in mid-2013 (i.e. 6 months after adoption).

The main aim of the new child restraint system is to create a well-anchored seat like that of an adult, safeguarding children to the maximum degree possible in the event of a collision or of abrupt deceleration of the vehicle, by limiting the mobility of the child’s body.

The new Regulation on CRS foresees four new sets of provisions;
  • The introduction of a simplified classification, called “ i -Size" which is based on the stature rather than the weight of the child, which was found to be more appropriate to ensure the best protection.
  • The introduction of a side impact test procedure which will lead to a better protection of the child’s head especially for younger children. Until today, there was no dynamic test requirement for lateral impacts.
  • The mandatory rear-facing position of children is extended to 15 months, instead of 9 months in the current Regulation.
  • The introduction of a "support leg” which connects the child seat with the vehicle in order to create a tight and secure position of the seat during any driving condition.


Insights of the new UN Regulations are provided in the following presentations: English - Spanish