The United Nations Global Technical Regulation on Automated Driving Systems

Current status: Closed

Consultation period: March 6, 2026 to May 1, 2026.

Transport Canada regulates the safety of motor vehicles and equipment to keep Canadian roads safe. Companies must certify that all new imported vehicles or motor vehicle equipment, or vehicles or motor vehicle equipment made in one province and sold in another meet Canada’s safety regulations and standards.

We want feedback from Canadians and road safety stakeholders on a proposed United Nations Global Technical Regulation (GTR) for automated driving systems (ADS). The GTR could be used in the future to help develop a Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard for these systems.

Background

After 5 years of intense work, the United Nations Working Party on Automated/Autonomous and Connected Vehicles has endorsed a draft United Nations GTR for automated driving systems. The GTR is now up for adoption at the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. Canada signed the 1998 Agreement concerning the Establishing of Global Technical Regulations for Wheeled Vehicles, Equipment and Parts Which Can Be Fitted and/or Be Used on Wheeled Vehicles. Because of this, if it is adopted, Canada must develop national regulations that include all or part of the GTR.

We know that laws might need to be updated or created in order to implement the GTR for automated driving systems. As such, Transport Canada wants feedback on the draft Global Technical Regulations for automated driving systems. This feedback will help us decide the next steps, including future Canadian regulations on the safety and performance of automated driving systems.

The draft GTR include requirements like:

  • having a safety management system for developing automated driving systems

  • setting performance requirements for the dynamic driving task (DDT)

  • requirements to help make sure interactions between the ADS and vehicle users are safe

  • requirements for testing, including trust in virtual testing and methods to show the ADS is safe

  • a process to show the ADS is safe by submitting a safety case

  • requirements for monitoring, reporting and oversight

In the future, we may adjust the text of the GTR for automated driving systems in our regulations to adapt it to Canadian laws. We may publish a draft regulatory proposal for public comment in the Canada Gazette, Part I, followed by a final regulation in the Canada Gazette, Part II.

We want to hear from you

Transport Canada wants your feedback! Specifically, we want feedback on:

  • Effectiveness: Are the core parts of the Global Technical Regulation for automated driving systems (safety management systems, specific ADS requirements, safety case and monitoring) an effective way to regulate the safety of ADS?

  • Flexibility: Is the Global Technical Regulation for automated driving systems flexible enough to regulate ADS safety as this technology continues to evolve?

  • Support for innovation: How could adopting the Global Technical Regulation affect how ADS is developed and commercially launched in Canada?

  • Compatibility: Are there any potential conflicts between the Global Technical Regulation and the current Motor Vehicle Safety Act, the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations and the Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standards?

  • Suitability: Are there any safety risks in Canadian driving conditions that the Global Technical Regulations on ADS don’t already cover and that we should consider?

Reference documents

How to participate

Related information

Contact us

Transport Canada
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330 Sparks St
Ottawa, ON K1A 0N5

Toll-free telephone: 1-866-995-9737
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TTY: 1-888-675-6863
Fax: 613-954-4731
Email: RegulationsClerk-ASFB-Commisauxreglements@tc.gc.ca

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Any personal information you choose to provide is collected for the purpose of gathering stakeholder and public feedback for consideration on potential regulatory amendments to the regulations under the Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

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