Today you can read GTB President Geoff Draper’s report on that body’s 120th session held last week.
Over the years, GTB has done an enormous amount of impressive work to support the rapid introduction of new technologies into the regulations. This started with the introduction into the UN/ECE regulations of the asymmetrical passing beam from headlamps equipped with the R2 tungsten filament light source, and continued with halogen light sources, then HID, AFS, LED and now ADB systems. Now GTB is also contributing to the regulatory work of countries outside the UN 1958 agreement such as China and the USA.
The lighting community is unusually fortunate to have such
a vital, active association as GTB, which continues to bring together parties involved and interested in vehicle lighting, from an increasing number of countries—the Republic of Korea is the latest member—to constructively work together. This brings added value to all of us!
We mustn’t take for granted the presence of GTB. We must each and all work actively to reach a consensus on proposals to be submitted to the regulators, such as GRE, and this means that we have to start thinking for the longer term instead of focussing on short-term considerations. Without a longer-term vision, GTB will be weakened. Then decisions will be made by others less knowledgeable, without consideration of the constraints that may be imposed on new technologies.
GTB’s reputation is deservedly excellent, and GTB President Geoff Draper is doing a fantastic job, but he can’t do it alone. The cycle of innovation becomes faster and faster, and at the same time it gets harder to reach consensus. We have to strengthen our support for GTB to reach needed decisions about simplifying the lighting regulations, reducing the need for endless amendments, and streamlining the decision-making process as the number of member delegations increases.
Sincerely yours
DVN Editor in Chief