Provisional Translation
| OTO No. | 459 | Classification | MOT-43 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of Acceptance | July 18, 1991 | Ministry/Agency Receiving Complaint | Economic Planning Agency |
| Responsible Ministries | Ministry of Transport | Related Laws | Road Vehicles Law |
| Complainant | The American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (proxy complaint) | Exporting Countries | USA |
| Subject | Eliminating the requirement that the blink function must work perfectly on automobile front directional indicators | ||
| Details of Measures | The Road Vehicles Law sets down standards for the safety of construction and equipment of road vehicles and anti-pollution measures. Vehicles which fail to meet these standards may not be operated. Safety standards for road vehicles specify that when parking lights are used in conjunction with directional indicators (turn signals), the parking lights must be off when the turn signals are activated (blinker type), and having the turn signals blink when the parking lights are on is not allowed (on-off type). This is because on-off-type front turn signals are more difficult to see than blinking signals, and it is difficult to adopt this type given the heavy traffic congestion in Japan. Europe also does not allow the use of parking lights and turn signals together, and turn signals are of the blinker type. From the viewpoint of harmonizing international standards, the ECE.WP29 is discussing the use of taillights and brake lights which operate independently, and at this point it is not possible to eliminate the necessity of this function. The ministry concerned replied that specialized technical studies of this matter would continue, with comparative studies of visibility, etc. being carried out. In January 1992, the Ministry of Transport replied to the United States Government that this requirement couldn't be eliminated, given the poorer visibility of on-off- type turn signals, but suggested discussing this matter at ECE/WP29 in March 1992 (like Japan, Europe does not allow on-off-type turn signals). |
||
| Classification of Processing | Cc | Directions | I-a |
| Remarks | |||