Working Party on Regulatory Cooperation and Standardization Policies (WP.6)

ELISABETH TÜRK

DIRECTOR

ECONOMIC COOPERATION AND TRADE DIVISION UNECE

Ms. Türk is Director of the Economic Cooperation and Trade Division (ECTD) at UNECE and leads the Division’s work across its four Sections: Cooperation and Partnerships, Innovative Policies Development, Market Access and Trade Facilitation. The Division works to support closer economic relations among UNECE’s 56 member States in the pursuit of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 2030 Agenda. Prior to that, Ms. Türk acted as Chief of the Section on International Investment Agreements (IIAs) in UNCTAD’s Division on Investment and Enterprise (DIAE), where she led the Section's work across the three pillars of UNCTAD activities: research and analysis, capacity-building and consensus-building. Ms. Türk’s earlier professional activities included functions in UNCTAD’s Division on International Trade and Commodities (DITC), covering e.g. WTO accessions and GATS negotiations, in the Geneva office of the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and in the World Trade Organization (WTO).

SPEAKER BIOGRAPHY

WP.6 3rd Forum Green, digital transformation

Green, digital transformation & risk management 2 April & gender considerations 3 April & market surveillance 4 April

2-4 April 2024 14:00 – 17:30

Conference, Geneva Palais des Nations H207-209 & hybrid

Working Party on Regulatory Cooperation and Standardization Policies (WP.6)

LANCE THOMPSON

SECRETARY / ECONOMIC AFFAIRS OFFICER

WP.6, UNECE

Having lived and worked in the United States, France and Japan, Lance Thompson joined the United Nations in 2017. He has a doctorate in social anthropology at the Sorbonne and an MBA specialized in International Business where he finished as valedictorian. In his past career in the private sector, he has worked extensively with standards and cooperation with government bodies, especially customs agencies from around the world. He has held key positions within the UN Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT), the World Customs Organization’s Data Model Project Team and the French Trade Facilitation organization ODASCE. In his role as Secretary to the Working Party on Regulatory Cooperation and Standardization Policies (WP.6), Lance Thompson actively seeks opportunities for cooperation between government agencies to reduce technical barriers to trade and ensure a smooth flow of cross-border movement of goods. He is engaged in all areas of the Working Party from market surveillance and risk management to education on standardization and gender-responsive standards.

SPEAKER BIOGRAPHY

WP.6 3rd Forum Green, digital transformation

Green, digital transformation & risk management 2 April & gender considerations 3 April & market surveillance 4 April

2-4 April 2024 14:00 – 17:30

Conference, Geneva Palais des Nations H207-209 & hybrid

Federal Department of the Environment, Transport,

Energy and Communications DETEC

Federal Roads Office FEDRO

Road Traffic Division

Regulating automated driving in Switzerland

Informal document GRVA-18-13

18th GRVA, 22-26 January 2024

Provisional agenda item 11

Submitted by the expert of Switzerland – Armin Jost

Federal Roads Office FEDRO

• It is currently possible to obtain an authorization on exceptional basis for

automated driving from the Swiss Federal Department of the Environment,

Transport, Energy and Communications DETEC.

• The authorizations are issued for pilot trials with a safety driver who is

present.

• Further information can be found on the FEDRO Intelligent Mobility website

→ Fact sheet for conducting pilot tests in Switzerland (PDF download)

Automated driving in Switzerland

Current options for automated driving

Federal Roads Office FEDRO

Automated driving in Switzerland

Authorized trials with automated vehicles since 2015

© Daten:swisstopo -

https://map.geo.admin.ch/

Federal Roads Office FEDRO

• On 17 March 2023, as part of a revision of the federal road traffic act, Parliament

granted the Federal Council the power to regulate automated driving.

• The government is currently preparing regulations on automated driving.

• Public consultation is ongoing until February 2nd → see last slide for links.

• The regulations are expected to enter into force in early 2025.

• In addition, Parliament has granted the Federal Roads Office FEDRO the power

to authorize pilot trials.

Automated driving in Switzerland

Options for automated driving from 2025

Federal Roads Office FEDRO

Driver has practically

full control Driver controls either

longitudinal or

latitudinal movement

Driver monitors road

situation

Driver ready to take

back control

Driverless in certain

situations

Vehicle performs all

driving tasks

Vehicle controls other

functions

Vehicle controls

longitudinal and

latitudinal movement

in certain situations

Vehicle controls

longitudinal and

latitudinal movement

in many situations;

vehicle warns driver in

good time

Vehicle controls

longitudinal and

latitudinal movement

in many situations;

vehicle can restore risk-

minimising status

Conventional Assisted Partially automated Conditionally automated Highly automated Fully automated

Automated driving in Switzerland

What does the new regulation cover?

Already permitted today

(with hands on steering wheel)

Subject of revision of

Road Traffic Act

Future

Federal Roads Office FEDRO

The new regulations are intended to cover the following types of vehicles equipped

with an Automated Driving System (ADS):

• ‘Vehicle with takeover request’ – Vehicles that still require a driver but can

cover certain sections of a route in automated mode (e.g. UN-R157).

• ‘Driverless vehicles’ – Vehicles without a driver that can cover certain routes

which have been authorized in advance.

• ‘Vehicles with an automated parking system’ – (Dual Mode) Vehicles that can

park without a driver in parking spaces which have been authorized in

advance.

The vehicles can be used commercially and they can be intended for the

transportation of persons or goods.

Automated driving in Switzerland

Options for automated driving from 2025

Federal Roads Office FEDRO

• Driverless vehicles must be type-approved (in principle).

• The type approval procedure is prescribed by Regulation (EU) 2018/858.

• As part of the type approval process for a driverless vehicle, it must be

demonstrated that the specific requirements of Regulation (EU) 2019/2144 and

Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1426 are met.

Including CSMS (UN-R155), SUMS (UN-R156) and ISMR

• The legal structure is open to supplementation by future UN regulations for ADS.

• The type approval must be obtained from a member state of the EU (or from a

CP of the 1958 Agreement) and must explicitly cover Switzerland as well.

• It is not possible to obtain a type approval in Switzerland in the foreseeable

future.

Automated driving in Switzerland

Driverless vehicles with type approval

Federal Roads Office FEDRO

• The Federal Roads Office FEDRO has the power to authorize ADS of

driverless vehicles which are not type-approved.

• Applicants must prove on a case-by-case basis that a certain safety level

is guaranteed and a detailed ODD description is present. The safety level

must be equal to the one guaranteed by a type-approval procedure.

• With exceptional authorization for the ADS, the vehicle may finally be

registered under the normal procedure and may be used commercially.

Automated driving in Switzerland

Driverless vehicles with exceptional authorisation (without type approval)

Federal Roads Office FEDRO

• The operational area for driverless vehicles must be authorized in

advance of the registration procedure. It can include highways, urban and

non-urban areas.

• Driverless vehicles may only operate on specified routes, but the

authorization does not have to be limited to a few streets. It can include a

large number of routes or even all routes in a certain area.

• Applicants must assess and confirm that all routes applied for are within

the ADS boundaries and the authorization requirements are met.

• Restrictions on the requested operational area may result from the ODD

or the operating concept of the vehicle keeper.

Automated driving in Switzerland

Operational area for driverless vehicles

Federal Roads Office FEDRO

Authorization requirements:

• Vehicles must be able to drive themselves autonomously in the

operational area.

• Infrastructure for the relevant route must meet the technical requirements

for the operation of driverless vehicles.

• Operating driverless vehicles shall not disrupt traffic or cause congestion.

• Road safety shall not be compromised.

• All duties of a regular driver must still be fulfilled.

Automated driving in Switzerland

Assessment of the operational area for driverless vehicles

Federal Roads Office FEDRO

Authorization requirements:

• Suitably qualified operators supervise the vehicle. They have access to

the required data and information on how the vehicle is operating at all

times and have suitably equipped workstations.

• An operator may supervise several vehicles at the same time and does

not have to be near the vehicle. However, his or her place of work

must be in Switzerland.

• Communication between operators and passengers in the vehicle is

guaranteed at all times via audio-visual interface.

• If necessary, the authority may specify additional requirements due to

local conditions (e.g. relatively slow vehicles may only operate outside

the rush hour).

Automated driving in Switzerland

Assessment of the operational area for driverless vehicles

Federal Roads Office FEDRO

The same insurance regulations apply to driverless vehicles as to normal vehicles:

• In order to register a vehicle, the vehicle keeper must take out a third party

liability insurance that covers any damage caused by the vehicle.

• Parties suffering damage have the right to file a claim directly against the

insurance company under the contractual insurance cover.

• In certain circumstances, the insurance company has a right of recourse against

the party who caused the damage.

Automated driving in Switzerland

Insurance

Federal Roads Office FEDRO

The Federal Roads Office FEDRO may authorize pilot trials.

• Authorization for a pilot trial is required if a normal registration procedure

is not possible.

• In the course of a trial, it is permitted to not comply with the legal

requirements. However, road safety must be guaranteed at all times.

• Measures must be taken to limit the risks associated with a trial.

• There are strict reporting obligations toward the authorities.

• A successfully conducted trial can be a relevant element for granting an

exceptional authorization for a registration under the normal procedure.

Automated driving in Switzerland

Driverless vehicles with pilot trial authorization

Federal Roads Office FEDRO

Press release from 18 October 2023 on the public consultation with related documents:

➢ Der Bundesrat will automatisiertes Fahren ermöglichen

➢ Le Conseil fédéral souhaite autoriser la conduite automatisée

➢ Il Consiglio federale intende consentire la guida automatizzata

Automated driving in Switzerland

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For further

information

please visit

our website

Federal Roads Office FEDRO

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