By Paul-Henri Matha
I took time to check lamp activation on a variety of cars, to see if they comply with UN R48 Series 07, the new Series 08 (mandatory for new vehicle types from January 2023 and all types from September 2027), or the newest Series 09 amendments (mandatory for new types from September 2027 and all types from September 2030). Automakers will have to modify their production vehicles by September 2027 to be compliant with 08 and September 2030 to be compliant with 09.
My focus for R48-08 is based on low beam activation and deactivation. It requires a new approach by automakers, because it is now restricted or disallowed to deactivate the low beam manually while driving, or in parking conditions. This was a strong request from regulators, to avoid vehicles driving around at night with their DRLs on, and without any rear signalling functions. It is a requirement with sharper teeth than the analogous regulatory adjustments in Canada we reported on when they were new; here are the relevant parts of R48-08:
6.2.7.5. The dipped-beam headlamps shall be switched ON and OFF automatically relative to the ambient light conditions (…) In addition, the following subparagraphs 6.2.7.5.1. apply.
6.2.7.5.1. Irrespective of the requirements of paragraph 6.2.7.5., under conditions requiring the dipped beam headlamps to be switched ON, the dipped-beam headlamps may remain switched OFF or, once automatically switched ON, may be switched OFF manually and remain switched OFF while one or more of the following conditions exist:
(a) The automatic transmission control is in the park position;
(b) The parking brake is in the locked position;
(c) Prior to the vehicle being set in motion for the first time after each manual activation of the device, which starts and/or stops the propulsion system;
(d) The control is designed in such a way that manual deactivation shall not be possible with less than two deliberate actions. The lamps referred to in paragraph 5.11. shall be switched ON,
or
If the vehicle speed does not exceed 15 km/h, the control shall be designed in such a way that manual deactivation shall not be possible with less than two deliberate actions. The lamps referred to in paragraph 5.11. may remain switched OFF provided that, throughout the entire period that these lamps are switched OFF, it is indicated to the driver with an optical and with an acoustic or haptic warning signal.
(e) The front fog lamps are switched ON;
The automatic operation of the dipped-beam headlamps shall be resumed as soon as the conditions in this paragraph no longer exist.
6.2.7.6. Irrespective of the requirements of paragraph 6.2.7.5., it shall always be possible to switch the dipped beam headlamps ON manually.6.2.7.7. The driver shall at all times be able to engage the automatic operation.
6.2.7.8. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 6.2.7.5., in cases where the ambient illuminance is 1,000 lx or more the dipped-beam headlamps may switch ON and OFF automatically relative to other factors such as time or ambient conditions (e.g. time of the day, vehicle location, rain, fog, etc.).
Also I am focusing on the new autolevelling requirements in R48-09:
6.2.6.2.1. In the case where a headlamp levelling device is necessary (…), the device shall be automatic
We can see three compliance strategies from automakers: a traditional stalk with stable fixed-detent positions (no longer acceptable as of September 2027), a new type of selector stalk, such as one with unstable positions, compliant with R48-08, or a hybrid solution with a stalk for high beam and turn indicators while all other functions are moved to the centre stack display or elsewhere. Here’s a sample of what I found:
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