UN Regulation No 159 governs the Moving-Off Information System (MOIS), which alerts drivers to pedestrians and cyclists in the area immediately in front of large vehicles. GSR II made the system mandatory for specified vehicle categories.
What Is MOIS under UN Regulation No 159?
UN Regulation No 159 is a regulation adopted under the United Nations 1958 Agreement. It lays down technical requirements for the Moving-Off Information System (MOIS) in large motor vehicles. The GSR II transition made it mandatory equipment for specified vehicle categories.
The regulation is intended in particular to address the risks posed by vehicles in categories M2, M3, N2 and N3 —including buses, coaches, trucks and other heavy vehicles—when they move off from rest or travel at low speed, and to protect pedestrians and cyclists as vulnerable road users.
Purpose of the Regulation
The principal objective of UN Regulation No 159 is to help prevent collisions with pedestrians and cyclists in vehicle blind spots and to warn drivers of these hazards, improving safety for vulnerable road users in urban and congested traffic.
Large vehicles are particularly likely to create this type of risk when manoeuvring at low speed.
Mirrors and other visual aids have traditionally been used to mitigate these risks; advances in technology have now introduced advanced driver assistance systems to help prevent them.
Scope
UN Regulation No 159 requires applicable motor vehicles to be equipped with MOIS. The system informs the driver of pedestrians and cyclists in the close-proximity front blind spot and issues a collision warning when the situation becomes critical.
MOIS operates as the vehicle moves off or travels at low speed.
The regulation assumes that vehicles are designed for right-hand traffic, while allowing the relevant criteria to be adapted for left-hand traffic.
Which Vehicle Categories Does UN Regulation No 159 Cover?
UN Regulation No 159 applies to vehicles in categories M2, M3, N2 and N3:
- M2 and M3: buses and minibuses designed to carry more than eight passengers in addition to the driver.
- N2 and N3: trucks and other heavy commercial vehicles with a maximum mass exceeding 3.5 tonnes.
Because these vehicles are large and have significant blind spots, they can present a particular risk to pedestrians and cyclists. UN Regulation No 159 requires MOIS in order to reduce that risk.
Definition of MOIS
Moving-Off Information System (MOIS), also described as a pedestrian and cyclist collision warning system, detects pedestrians and cyclists in the vehicle’s close-proximity front blind spot and communicates their presence to the driver.
When the collision risk becomes critical, MOIS issues a higher-priority warning. It operates before and during moving-off and at low speeds, giving the driver time to intervene.
How Does MOIS Work under UN Regulation No 159?
We recommend the ZF Group video below, which provides a concise visual explanation of the system’s purpose and operation.
Types of Signal
MOIS must provide two principal types of signal:
- Information Signal: This signal informs the driver that a pedestrian or cyclist is present in the close-proximity front blind spot, allowing the driver to stop safely or otherwise avoid the hazard.
- Collision Warning Signal: This higher-priority warning is activated when a collision becomes imminent. It may be visual, acoustic or haptic and is designed to prompt an immediate response from the driver.
Technical Requirements
The regulation requires the system to perform effectively under a range of conditions:
- Lighting Conditions: The system must operate adequately by day and night, including under low-light conditions. The specified performance is expected at illumination levels above 15 lux.
- Detection Area: The system must detect pedestrians and cyclists in the relevant area immediately in front of the vehicle and promptly inform the driver. Its signals must be clear, readily perceptible and unambiguous.
- False Warnings: The manufacturer must limit unnecessary reactions and false warnings. Roadside objects such as traffic cones, signs or parked vehicles should not be incorrectly classified as vulnerable road users.
Manual Deactivation and Automatic Unavailability
The system may automatically indicate that it is unavailable when environmental factors such as snow or mud prevent reliable operation. Manual deactivation may also be permitted. On a new vehicle start, however, the system must automatically return to its normal active state.
UN R159 Testing, Reporting and Approval
UN Regulation No 159 defines detailed test procedures for assessing system accuracy and effectiveness. Tests verify whether the system correctly detects pedestrians and cyclists and warns the driver while the vehicle is stationary or moving at specified speeds.
Test scenarios include pedestrians or cyclists crossing in front of the vehicle and remaining stationary in the detection area. The tests also examine whether the system correctly indicates unavailability under specified conditions, such as insufficient illumination or obstructed sensors.
On the basis of the prescribed tests, a manufacturer may support vehicle type-approval with its own test report or system approval where the applicable procedure permits this, without relying on a manufacturer-approved STU.
Summary
UN Regulation No 159 is a safety regulation intended to prevent collisions between large vehicles and pedestrians or cyclists in their blind spots. To ensure reliable operation, the regulation specifies technical requirements and test procedures.
It supports safer low-speed operation of large vehicles, particularly in urban traffic, and contributes to the protection of vulnerable road users.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Is a UN R159 MOIS Test Report Obtained?
MOIS systems installed as original equipment or added later can be assessed through testing by an accredited technical service. We support manufacturers with test planning, coordination, execution and the subsequent approval process.
When Can MOIS Become Unavailable?
MOIS may become automatically unavailable when its sensors are obstructed by snow, mud or ice. The system may also be designed to signal unavailability under environmental conditions in which reliable detection cannot be maintained.
Once normal sensor operation is restored, the system automatically becomes active again.
Who Can Obtain MOIS Approval?
Vehicle manufacturers can obtain approval by having the installed system tested in the vehicle context. The regulation does not currently provide a separate component-approval procedure for MOIS suppliers.
Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram for further updates.
Summary
MOIS under UN Regulation No 159 alerts drivers of heavy vehicles to collision risks involving pedestrians and cyclists in the area immediately in front of the vehicle. This article explains its scope and relationship with GSR II. The article also covers What Is MOIS under UN Regulation No 159?, Purpose of the Regulation and Scope.
