Published on: 2026-06-24
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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June 24, 2026 Economic development
Ten years ago, the automotive industry predicted the rapid and mass transition to driverless driving, but those forecasts have not yet come true. Today, in the global regulation of this sector, a historic turning point has finally been reached. The World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29), held under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), has approved the world’s first regulatory framework for fully driverless autonomous driving systems.
The new document establishes unified international safety requirements and a general methodology for the certification of such means of transport. The rules are based on the principles of holistic safety management. The purpose of this approach is to strengthen trust between states, business, and society, ensuring that automated systems meet the most stringent and transparent reliability criteria.
The UNECE emphasizes the importance of harmonizing global rules regarding means of transport. Rejecting fragmented national rules, the international community provides manufacturers with clear legal guidelines, consumers with confidence in safety, and the market itself with the possibility to effectively scale innovation. The new rules will come into force in about a month.
Key elements of the new rules
Security management: manufacturers are required to implement a comprehensive security audit of processes throughout the entire life cycle of a vehicle.
Testing requirements: all test sites, including virtual modeling platforms, must comply with the strictest criteria of accuracy and reliability.
Safety Case: companies are required to provide evidence that their unmanned systems do not carry unjustified risks.
Monitoring and reporting during operation: continuous control of effectiveness is required and provision of reports for safety verification in real conditions.
Data storage: vehicles must record all data that are significant for safety.
Focus on safety
According to the rules, the effectiveness of unmanned systems must correspond to the level of a competent human driver or exceed it.
Since the automated vehicle takes over control of all tactical and operational processes (such as steering, acceleration, deceleration, lighting, signaling, etc.), manufacturers are required to demonstrate to regulatory authorities the reliability of the design, the results of inspections, and the ability to comply with traffic rules using virtual simulators, proving grounds, and real-world testing.
On the way to global implementation
The developed regulatory framework takes into account various scenarios for the use of driverless cars – from high-speed highways to urban conditions – and allows for the development of technologies without compromising human safety. The largest automotive markets, including the UK, EU, Canada, China, USA, and Japan, have supported these regulations, which indicates readiness for their global implementation.
Adaptation of existing rules
Simultaneously with the new regulation, the World Forum WP.29 adopted amendments to approximately 90 existing UN regulations. These clarifications are intended to ensure that the existing standards remain applicable to vehicles equipped with automated driving systems, including models without traditional control means (steering wheel and pedals).
Thus, the regulatory and legal framework continues to be continuously updated, and opportunities open up for the industry to develop innovative designs, including fully unmanned configurations.
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