KEY NEWS 1/4 — EU
The European Commission Updates the General Safety Regulation (GSR)
The European Commission is working on an update to the General Safety Regulation (GSR), established in Regulation (EU) 2019/2144. This draft aims to incorporate the latest technical and regulatory developments from the World Forum for the Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).

Key Changes in the Draft
The update proposes amendments to Annexes I and II of the Regulation to address the following aspects:
- Direct Vision: Enhancements to improve visibility in heavy vehicles, reducing blind spots.
- Event Data Recorders (EDR) for Heavy-Duty Vehicles: Collection and analysis of data in case of incidents.
- Enlarged Head Impact Zones: New safety zones designed to protect pedestrians and cyclists.
- Advanced Driver Distraction Warning Systems: Technologies to detect and mitigate driver distractions.
Purpose of the Amendment
This update aims to ensure that vehicles approved in the European Union comply with the most recent international standards. To achieve this, references to new UN regulations and amendment series, which will be mandatory for EU type-approval, will be incorporated.
Additionally, Annex II will be updated to include requirements related to advanced driver distraction warning systems, direct vision for trucks and buses, and driver control assistance systems.
Entry into Force
The amendment will enter into force twenty days after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union, although the publication date has not yet been confirmed.
Commitment to Road Safety
With this initiative, the European Union reinforces its commitment to road safety and global standardization, positioning itself at the forefront of developing regulations for safer and more technologically advanced vehicles.
All amendments, interpretations, and consolidated versions of the Regulations are available in the IRIS Digital Solution, through the IRIS Regulatory Knowledge Base.
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KEY NEWS 2/4 — EU
Euro NCAP Publishes First Results of the TRUCK SAFE Program
Euro NCAP has released the first results of its new TRUCK SAFE program, which evaluates the safety of heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) for the first time. This initiative is part of Euro NCAP’s mission to achieve Vision Zero, aimed at eliminating all traffic fatalities and serious injuries.
A Critical Issue on European Roads
Due to their size and weight, accidents involving heavy-duty vehicles are the most severe on European roads. Although trucks make up less than 3% of the traffic fleet, they are responsible for 15% of traffic fatalities. Moreover, only 11% of the victims are truck occupants; the remaining 89% include car occupants and vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists.
Despite these risks, trucks are essential for goods transportation, distributing 95% of the products consumed across the continent. For this reason, the TRUCK SAFE program aims to support the industry while ensuring that vehicles become safer and reduce their impact on other road users.
Evaluation Methodology
The TRUCK SAFE program is based on an innovative framework that assesses vehicle safety across three stages of an accident’s lifecycle:
- Safe Driving: Monitoring driver behavior, driving assistance, visibility, and active safety systems.
- Crash Prevention: Evaluating advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) in scenarios such as low-speed maneuvers and lane changes.
- Post-Crash Safety: Ease of rescue and extrication during the "golden hour" following an accident.
Trucks are awarded a percentage score in each category, which is combined into an overall rating of up to five stars.
Additionally, an extra CitySafe accreditation is introduced, granted to trucks equipped with technologies or designs that prevent urban accidents, such as automated emergency braking to detect bicycles at junctions.
An Initiative to Raise Standards
EuroNCAP has been leading car safety evaluations for nearly 30 years and extended its testing to light commercial vehicles in 2020. With TRUCK SAFE, the organization brings together manufacturers, transporters, insurers, and authorities to improve heavy-duty vehicle safety, reduce fatalities, and promote responsible transport across Europe.
The TRUCK SAFE program tests were conducted at several EuroNCAP-accredited facilities across Europe. Among them, Applus+ IDIADA played a pivotal role in developing these evaluations, leveraging its expertise in safety testing and advanced infrastructure in Spain. Applus+ IDIADA’s contribution underscores its commitment to innovation and the improvement of road safety across Europe, solidifying its position as a leader in this field.
This is just the beginning of an initiative that will, over time, extend to other vehicle categories to ensure a safer future on Europe’s roads.
KEY NEWS 3/4 — USA
NHTSA to Implement Pedestrian Protection Program in NCAP Starting in 2026
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) have announced the addition of a pedestrian protection program to the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). This initiative will evaluate vehicles' ability to mitigate pedestrian injuries and will be implemented with 2026 model year vehicles.
A Proven Approach
NHTSA has decided to adopt most of the evaluation methods used by the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP), including injury thresholds for testing devices and the scoring methodology.
Testing will involve devices such as adult and child headform impactors, the TRL upper legform impactor, and the Flexible Pedestrian Legform Impactor (FlexPLI). Manufacturers will need to provide test data for validation, and NHTSA will conduct verification testing on selected vehicles.
A Step Toward Pedestrian Safety
Since its inception in 1978, NCAP has played a key role in reducing vehicle-related crashes, injuries, and fatalities in the United States. However, while occupant fatalities have decreased over the past decades, pedestrian deaths have risen by 51% from 2001 to 2021, reaching 7,388 fatalities annually.
Vehicle-pedestrian crashes, though less frequent than vehicle-to-vehicle accidents, are significantly deadlier. An estimated 53 out of 1,000 vehicle-pedestrian crashes result in a pedestrian fatality, compared to only 2.6 out of 1,000 in vehicle-to-vehicle crashes.
Methodology and Evaluation
The new pedestrian protection program is based on tests simulating a vehicle striking a pedestrian laterally at 40 km/h (25 mph). The evaluation focuses on four test devices:
- Headform impactors (adult and child): Representing the average weight of an adult and child head.
- TRL upper legform impactor: Evaluating injuries to the upper legs.
- Flexible Pedestrian Legform Impactor (FlexPLI): Simulating injuries to the lower extremities.
Each device measures injuries in commonly affected body regions. Scores are calculated using Euro NCAP methodologies to determine whether the vehicle meets a minimum safety threshold.
Temporary Evaluation System
Initially, NHTSA will not implement a comparative rating system like Euro NCAP. Instead, it will identify vehicles that meet the minimum safety threshold on its website and in official publications. This pass-fail assessment approach is temporary and will be replaced by a more detailed rating system in the future, aligned with other planned updates in NCAP’s roadmap.
Addressing Infrastructure and Safety
This announcement also responds to the provisions of Section 24213 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which requires NHTSA to incorporate measures to evaluate the protection vehicles provide to vulnerable road users, including pedestrians.
With this update, NHTSA reaffirms its commitment to reducing fatalities and injuries on U.S. roads, advancing the design of safer vehicles for both occupants and vulnerable users.
KEY NEWS 4/4 — GCC
Technical Regulation Model Year 2026
The Gulf Standardization Organization (GSO) has published a correction to the list of GSO Technical Regulations for vehicles for the 2026 Model Year. This updated document modifies information regarding the implementation of emission limits in Oman.
Specific Regulations for Gulf Countries
The document outlines the United Nations Regulations (UN Regulations) accepted by the member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and Bahrain. Additionally, it includes information on:
- Recall campaigns
- Warranty agreements
- GSO technical requirements
- National regulations specific to each country
What is the GSO Model Year?
The GSO Model Year is a technical designation adopted by the GSO to set the requirements that vehicles must meet in order to be sold in GCC member countries. These regulations cover safety, emissions, and technical standards specific to the region.
The GSO Model Year follows the Gregorian calendar and aligns with international regulations, with adjustments to address the local needs of Gulf countries. For example, the GSO Model Year 2026 will begin on January 1, 2026 and end on December 31 of the same year.
Key Features
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Regulatory Compliance
Each model year is associated with a series of technical regulations that must be met for a vehicle to gain approval in the GCC market. These include:- Emission Standards: Implementation of standards such as Euro 5 or Euro 6b, depending on the country.
- Safety: Integration of emergency call systems (eCall), child restraint systems (ISOFIX), and seatbelt anchorage requirements, among others.
- Documentation: Mandatory registration of Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN) in the Mutabiq system.
- Objective
The model year aims to ensure the standardization of vehicles sold in the region, improve road safety, and reduce environmental impact.
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Regional Specifications
While basic standards are common, some Gulf countries have additional requirements. For instance, Saudi Arabia mandates the implementation of eCall systems starting in 2027.
Impact on Manufacturers and Importers
Compliance with the GSO Model Year is mandatory for any manufacturer or importer wishing to market vehicles in GCC countries. These regulations not only protect consumers but also help harmonize technical standards across the region.
The GSO Model Year stands as a key element in regulating and ensuring quality in the Gulf's automotive industry, promoting modernization and sustainability within the sector.
You can get more information related to these highlights in our Regulatory Monitoring Reports Service.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at iris@idiada.com.