Bc. Marek Mičák
Bc. Bogdan Lukashenko
For years, autonomous vehicles were presented as an imminent revolution in mobility. Around 2020, many anticipated that fully self-driving cars would already be operating widely on public roads. In reality, the deployment of Automated Driving Systems (ADS) proved far more complex. Beyond technological development, regulators faced the challenge of constructing a coherent legal framework capable of ensuring safety, accountability, and public trust. After approximately ten years of technological advancement and regulatory preparation combined with two years of formal drafting and consultation a draft United Nations Global Technical Regulation on Automated Driving Systems has now been finalized .
The draft was adopted in January 2026 by the UNECE Working Party on Automated/Autonomous and Connected Vehicles (GRVA) and will be submitted to the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) in June 2026 . If adopted, it would establish the first harmonized global technical regulation enabling the deployment of fully autonomous vehicles on public roads without driver supervision .
The regulation responds to the rapid development of automated driving technologies, which promise substantial improvements in road safety and mobility while simultaneously introducing new technical and societal risks. Regulators therefore recognized that fragmented national approaches could undermine both safety and innovation. A coordinated international framework was deemed necessary to prevent regulatory divergence, facilitate global market access, and maintain public confidence .[1]
Importantly, the draft regulation adopts a performance-based and technology-neutral structure. Rather than prescribing specific technical solutions, it formulates outcome-oriented safety requirements. This approach ensures adaptability to future technological evolution while maintaining consistent safety objectives.
From a technical perspective, the regulation defines an Automated Driving System as an integrated combination of vehicle hardware and software capable of performing the entire Dynamic Driving Task (DDT) on a sustained basis . The DDT includes environmental perception, decision-making, manoeuvre planning, and vehicle motion control. Because these systems replace core human driving functions, manufacturers must demonstrate that the safety performance of their ADS is at least equivalent to that of a competent and careful human driver.[2]
To verify compliance, the regulation introduces a multi-pillar validation methodology. Regulators explicitly acknowledge that no single testing method can sufficiently demonstrate safety. Therefore, manufacturers must rely on a combination of simulation-based testing, closed-track trials, real-world driving tests, and regulatory audits . This integrated assessment framework allows evaluation across diverse operational conditions and complex traffic scenarios.
A central element of the framework is the requirement to compile a structured Safety Case. Manufacturers must provide clearly formulated safety claims, supported by technical arguments and documented evidence, demonstrating that the ADS operates without unreasonable risk and complies with regulatory requirements . The Safety Case is subject to comprehensive regulatory assessment and functions as a formal mechanism of accountability.
Complementing this obligation is the mandatory implementation of a Safety Management System (SMS). The SMS integrates organizational structures, human competencies, and technical processes to manage safety throughout the entire lifecycle of the system from development and validation to deployment and post-market operation . The regulation includes audit and certification mechanisms to verify compliance with SMS requirements.[3]
Safety oversight continues even after vehicles enter the market. The regulation establishes In-Service Monitoring and Reporting (ISMR) mechanisms, requiring continuous data collection, occurrence reporting, and performance evaluation . In addition, vehicles must be equipped with a Data Storage System for Automated Driving (DSSAD) capable of recording safety-relevant ADS performance data . These mechanisms create a feedback loop enabling authorities to identify systemic risks and implement corrective measures when necessary.[4]
The draft builds upon earlier international instruments, including the 2022 Framework Document on Automated Vehicles and the 2024 Guidelines and recommendations for ADS requirements, assessments and test methods . Several major jurisdictions have already engaged with the proposal: the United States launched a Request for Comment through its national authorities, China indicated its intention to align its national standards with the global regulation, and Japan together with several European countries welcomed the initiative.
At a systemic level, the regulation aims not only to enable technological deployment but also to clarify responsibility attribution through structured documentation and data logging, prevent fragmented legal regimes, enhance international cooperation, and strengthen public trust in automated mobility . In doing so, it represents one of the most comprehensive attempts to regulate safety-critical artificial intelligence technologies within a globally harmonized legal framework.
Key Summary
- A draft United Nations Global Technical Regulation on Automated Driving Systems (ADS) was finalized after a decade of technological development and regulatory preparation, and adopted by GRVA in January 2026 for submission to WP.29.
- The regulation aims to establish the first harmonized global framework enabling fully autonomous vehicles to operate on public roads without driver supervision.
- It follows a performance-based and technology-neutral approach, requiring safety outcomes comparable to those of a competent and careful human driver.
- Safety compliance is ensured through a multi-pillar validation framework (simulation, track testing, real-world tests, and audits) and a structured Safety Case supported by evidence.
- Manufacturers must implement a certified Safety Management System (SMS) covering the entire lifecycle of the system.
- Ongoing oversight is secured through in-service monitoring, reporting obligations, and mandatory data recording (DSSAD), promoting accountability and public trust.
The authors work as student assistants at the Institute of IT and IP Law, Faculty of Law, Comenius University Bratislava. E-mail: micak5@uniba.sk, lukashenko2@uniba.sk.
SOURCES:
[1] UN announces a global regulation to facilitate safe introduction of self-driving vehicles on public roads worldwide. In: UNECE. [online]. [cit. 17.2.2026]. Dostupné na: https://unece.org/media/transport/Vehicle-Regulations/press/411317
[2] Proposal for a new United Nations Global Technical Regulation on Automated Driving Systems (ADS) [online]. [cit. 12.2.2026]. Dostupné na: https://unece.org/sites/default/files/2026-01/ECE-TRANS-WP.29-GRVA-2026-02e.pdf
[1] UN announces a global regulation to facilitate safe introduction of self-driving vehicles on public roads worldwide. In: UNECE. [online]. [cit. 17.2.2026]. Dostupné na: https://unece.org/media/transport/Vehicle-Regulations/press/411317
[2] Proposal for a new United Nations Global Technical Regulation on Automated Driving Systems (ADS) [online]. [cit. 12.2.2026]. Dostupné na: https://unece.org/sites/default/files/2026-01/ECE-TRANS-WP.29-GRVA-2026-02e.pdf
s. 6.
[3] Proposal for a new United Nations Global Technical Regulation on Automated Driving Systems (ADS) [online]. [cit. 12.2.2026]. Dostupné na: https://unece.org/sites/default/files/2026-01/ECE-TRANS-WP.29-GRVA-2026-02e.pdf,
s. 12.
[4] Proposal for a new United Nations Global Technical Regulation on Automated Driving Systems (ADS) [online]. [cit. 12.2.2026]. Dostupné na: https://unece.org/sites/default/files/2026-01/ECE-TRANS-WP.29-GRVA-2026-02e.pdf
s. 32.