AFRICAN 
STANDARD  DARS  
1355 -2 
First Edition 2020  
 
 Reference No. DARS 1355 -2:2020 (E) 
ICS 03.120.20; 43.020  
 
 
© ARSO 2020  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Vehicle standards — Specification for vehicle roadworthiness — 
Part 2: Roadworthiness of vehicles prior to entry into service, and 
thereafter  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 DARS 1355 -2:2020  
ii © ARSO 2020 — All rights reserved   
Table of contents  
 
1 Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  1 
2 Normative references  ................................ ................................ ................................ .....................  1 
3 Terms, definitions and abbreviations ................................ ................................ ..............................  2 
3.1 Definitions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............................  2 
3.2 Terminology  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  4 
3.3 Abbreviations  ................................ ................................ ................................ .........................  4 
4 Administrative requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........  5 
4.1 Application form  ................................ ................................ ................................ .....................  5 
4.2 Evidence of vehicle having been presented  ................................ ................................ ..........  5 
4.3 Vehicle design compliance certificate  ................................ ................................ ....................  5 
5 Procedural matters regarding the actual test  ................................ ................................ .................  5 
5.1 Circumstances where an examiner may refuse to examine a vehicle or to complete an 
examination  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  5 
6 Assessment of compliance to vehicle design safety standards applicable on “date of entry into 
service” and thereafter  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  6 
6.1 Evidence  of compliance – Reject if  ................................ ................................ ........................  6 
6.2 Visual assessment indications – Reject if  ................................ ................................ ..............  6 
6.3 Compliance  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  7 
Bibliography  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........  11 
  DARS 1355 -2:2020  
© ARSO 2020 — All rights reserved  iii Foreword  
 
The African Organization for Standardization (ARS O) is an African intergovernmental organization 
established by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the Organization of 
African Unity (AU)  in 1977 . One of the fundamental mandates of ARSO is to develop and harmo nize 
African Standards (ARS) for the purpose of enhancing Africa’s internal trading capacity, increase 
Africa’s product and service competitiveness globally and uplift the welfare of African 
communities. The work of preparing African  Standards is normally carried out through ARSO  technical 
committees. Each Member State  interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been 
established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, Regional 
Economic Communities (RECs), governmental and non -governmental  organizations , in liaison with 
ARSO , also take part in the work.  
 
ARSO  Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.  
 
The main task of technical co mmittees is to prepare ARSO  Standards. Draft ARSO  Standards 
adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an 
ARSO  Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.  
 
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of 
patent rights. ARSO  shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.  
 
This African Standard was prepared by the ARSO Technica l (Harmonization ) Committee Number 08-
4/59on Automotive Technology and  Engineering (ARSO/THC 0 8-4/ARSO/TC 59 ). 
 
 
 
© African Organisation for Standardisation  2020 — All rights reserved*  
 
ARSO Central Secretariat  
International House 3rd Floor  
P. O. Box 57363  — 00200 City Square  
NAIROBI, KENYA  
 
Tel. +254 -20-2224561, +254 -20-3311641, +254 -20-3311608  
 
E-mail: arso@arso -oran.org  
Web: www.arso -oran.org  
  
                                                 
*© 2020 ARSO — All rights of exploitation reserved worldwide for African Member States’ NSBs.  DARS 1355 -2:2020  
iv © ARSO 2020 — All rights reserved   
Copyright notice  
 
This ARSO document is copyright -protected by ARSO. While the reproduction of this document 
by participants in the ARSO standards development process is permitted without prior 
permission from ARSO, neither this document nor any extract  from it may be reproduced, stored 
or transmitted in any form for any other purpose without prior written permission from ARSO.  
 
Requests for permission to reproduce this document for the purpose of selling it should be 
addressed as shown below or to ARSO’ s member body in the country of the requester:  
 
 
© African Organisation for Standardisation 20 20 — All rights reserved  
 
ARSO Central Secretariat  
International House 3rd Floor  
P.O. Box 57363 — 00200 City Square  
NAIROBI, KENYA  
 
Tel: +254 -20-2224561, +254 -20-3311641, +254 -20-3311608  
 
 
E-mail: arso@arso -oran.org  
Web: www.arso -oran.org  
 
Reproduction for sales purposes may be subject to royalty payments or a licensing agreement. 
Violators may be p rosecuted.  
 
 
 
  DARS 1355 -2:2020  
© ARSO 2020 — All rights reserved  v Introduction  
 
This specification applies minimum safety design requirements. It is not intended to cover all of the 
specific national safety requirements of countries for vehicles registered and operating within their 
borders but wherever possible countries are requested to standardise on the criteria contained in this 
specification.  
 
Requirements are included only for items which are critical to safety and which can be assessed by a 
vehicle examiner with the facilities of a vehicle testing station complying with whatever appropriate 
requirements are laid down in legislation for vehicle examiners and vehicle testing stations.  
 
This specification takes into account that in Africa both new and used vehicles may be imported from a 
variety of countries or regions and such vehicles may have been designed to comply with the 
domestic requirements of specific source countries or regions anywhere in the world.  
 
This specification deals with met hods and considerations to provide for the introductionof more 
advanced safety requirements which are  detailed in Table 1 whilst offering options tominimize costly 
and burdensome technical and administrative controls and procedures. It caters for thesituat ion where 
many countries or regions from which Africa imports vehicles have requirements which differ in 
certain detail, but whichare intended and designed to afford a reasonable degree of safety to the 
vehicle occupants and to otherroad users. Examples of  where differences between national or 
regional requirements do, or may exist,but which are considered as providing an equal or an 
acceptable degree of safety are given in Table 2using UN ECE Regulations as the base.  
 
This standard consists of the following parts under the general title “Specification for vehicle 
roadworthiness” : 
 
Part 1: Roadworthiness of vehicles already in service  
 
Part 2: Roadworthiness of vehicles prior to entry into service and thereafter  
 
Part 3: Roadworthiness — Supporting information  
 
Part 4: Roadworthiness — Requirements for vehicle examiners  
 
Part 5: Roadworthiness — Requirements for testing equipment  
 
Part 6: Roadworthiness — Requirements for combinations of vehicles  
 
 
 
 DARS 1355 -2:2020  
© ARSO 2020 — All rights reserved  1  
Vehicle standards — Specification for vehicle roadworthiness — 
Part 2: Roadworthiness of vehicles prior to entry into service, and 
thereafter  
 
 
1 Scope  
 
This African Standard specifies the design safety  requirements for road vehicles prior to entry into 
service and thereafter when operating on a public road.  
 
This specification does not cover special requirements or concessions for certification of fitness for 
cross border operation, other than referring to cases where national or regional legislation may take 
preference over the requirements of this standard . 
 
NOTE  It is essential that suppliers of vehicles must be made aware of these requirements before  vehicles  whether new or 
used  are selected for importation to countries which are applying these requirements or before the vehicles are manufactured 
for supply  to such countries.  
 
2 Normative references  
 
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated 
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced 
document (including any amendments) applies.  For UNECE Regulation references listed in 6.3, the 
level stated in Table 1 or Table 2 applies  as the minimum requirement .  Compliance with later levels 
are acceptable but may not be set as a minimum requirement.  
 
ARS 1355 -1, Vehicle Standards — Specification for Vehicle Roadworthiness — Part 1: 
Roadworthiness of vehicles already in use  
 
ARS 1355 -3, Vehicle Standards — Specification for vehicle Roadworthiness — Part 3: 
Roadworthiness — Supporting information  
 
UNEC E R13 , Uniform provisions concerning the approval of vehicles of categories M, N and O with regard 
to braking  
 
UNECE R13H, Uniform provisions concerning the approval of passenger cars with regard to braking  
 
UNECE R16, Uniform provisions concerning the approval of:  
I. safety -belts, restraint systems, child restraint systems and isofix child restraint systems for 
occupants of powerdriven vehicles  
II. vehicles equipped with safety -belts, safety -belt reminders, restraint systems, child restraint 
systems and isofix  child restraint systems  
 
UNECE R27, Uniform provisions for the approval of advance -warning triangles  
 
UNECE R28, Uniform provisions concerning the approval of audible warning devices and of motor 
vehicles with regard to their audible signals  
 
UNECE R30, Uniform provisions concerning the approval of pneumatic tyres for motor vehicles and their 
trailers  
 
UNECE R39, Uniform provisions concerning the approval of vehicles withregard to the speedometer 
equipment including its installation  
 
UNECE R43, Uniform provisions concerning the approval of safety glazingmaterials and their 
installation on vehicles  
 AFRICAN STANDARD  DARS 1355 -2:2020  
2 © ARSO 2020 — All rights reserved  UNECE R46, Uniform provisions concerning the approval of vehicles with regard to rear -view mirrors 
and their installation  
 
UNECE R48 , Uniform provisions conce rning the approval of vehicles with regard to the installation of 
lighting and light -signalling devices  
 
UNECE R49 , Uniform provisions concerning the approval of compression -ignition (C.I.) and natural gas 
(NG) engines as well as positive -ignition (P.I.) engines fuelled with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and 
vehicles equipped with C.I. and NG engines and P.I. engines fuelled with LPG, with regard to the emissions 
of pollutants by the engine  
 
UNECE R54, Uniform provisions concerning the approval of pneumatic tyres for commercial vehicles and 
their trailers  
 
UNECE R58, Uniform provisions concerning the approval of:  
I.  Rear underrun protective devices (RUPDs)  
II.  Vehicles with regard to the installation of an RUPD of anapproved type  
III.  Vehicles with regard to their rear underrun protection (RUP)  
 
UNECE R66, Uniform technical prescriptions concerning the approval oflarge passenger vehicles with 
regard to the strength of theirsuperstructure  
 
UNECE R69, Uniform provisions concerning the approval of rear marking plates for slow -moving 
vehicles (by construction) and their trailers  
 
UNECE R70, Uniform provisions concerning the approval of rear marking plates for heavy and long 
vehicles  
 
UNECE R83 , Uniform provisions concerning the approval of vehicles with regard to the emission of 
pollutants according to engine fuel requirements  
 
UNECE R94, Uniform provisions concerning the approval of vehicles with regard to the protection of the 
occupants in th e event of a frontal collision  
 
UNECE R95, Uniform provisions concerning the approval of vehicles with regard tothe protection of the 
occupants in the event of a lateral collision  
 
UN ECE R104, Uniform provisions concerning the approval of retro -reflective  markings for vehicles of 
category M, N and O  
 
UNECE R107, Uniform provisions concerning the approval of category M2 or M3vehicles with regard 
to their general construction  
 
3 Terms , definitions  and abbreviations  
 
For the purpose of this standard the following  terms,  definition sand abbreviations apply . 
 
3.1 Definitions  
 
3.1.1  
approval authority  
the authority responsible for checking design compliance of vehicles entering into service for the first 
time. This may be a Roadworthiness Testing Centre qualified for this function, or some other body.  
 
3.1.2  
approval systems  
systems operated by an approval authority intended to provide some degree of assurance that 
compliance with vehicle design safety standards has been achieved.  
 DARS 1355 -2:2020  
© ARSO 2020 — All rights reserved  3 3.1.3  
date of entry int o service  
the date on which the vehicle was licensed or registered for the first time in the African country in 
which it is being operated.  
 
3.1.4  
degrees of assurance of compliance  
result from the adoption of the following approval systems:  
 
a) maximum degree of assurance — if test reports from acceptable sources are made available and 
if test equipment is available locally to re -test in cases of doubt.  
 
b) lesser degree of assurance — if the vehicles are received only from countries which are known  to 
apply similar standards to their domestic and export production and if the vehicles are not older 
than 5 years.  
 
c) minimal degree of assurance — if the vehicles and the owner's manuals are inspected visually for 
some indications that the vehicle is likel y to incorporate some or all of the required design safety 
standard requirements.  
 
3.1.5  
vehicle design compliance  
compliance to a design standard which has been published by a national or regional body  
 
3.1.6  
vehicle category  
categories as provided below:  
 
3.1.6.1   
Category L  
Motor vehicles with less than four wheels  
 
(i) "Category L1": A two -wheeled vehicle with an engine cylinder capacity in the case of a thermic 
engine not exceeding 50 cm3 and whatever the means of propulsion a maximum design speed 
not exceeding 50 km/h.  
(ii) "Category L2":A three -wheeled vehicle of any wheel arrangement with an engine cylinder 
capacity in the case of a thermic engine not exceeding 50 cm3 and whatever the means of 
propulsion a maximum design speed not exceeding 50 km/h.  
(iii) "Cate gory L3": A two -wheeled vehicle with an engine cylinder capacity in the case of a thermic 
engine exceeding 50 cm3 or whatever the means of propulsion a maximum design speed 
exceeding 50 km/h.  
(iv) "Category L4": A vehicle with three wheels asymmetrically arrang ed in relation to the 
longitudinal median plane with an engine cylinder capacity in the case of a thermic engine 
exceeding 50 cm3 or whatever the means of propulsion a maximum design speed exceeding 
50 km/h (motor cycles with sidecars).  
(v) "Category L5": A ve hicle with three wheels symmetrically arranged in relation to the longitudinal 
median plane with an engine cylinder capacity in the case of a thermic engine exceeding 50 
cm3 or whatever the means of propulsion a maximum design speed exceeding 50 km/h.  
(vi) "Category L6": A vehicle with four wheels whose unladen mass is not more than 350 kg, not 
including the mass of the batteries in case of electric vehicles, whose maximum design speed 
is not more than 45 km/h, and whose engine cylinder capacity does not exceed 50 cm3 for 
spark (positive) ignition engines, or whose maximum net power output does not exceed 4 kW in 
the case of other internal combustion engines, or whose maximum continuous rated power 
does not exceed 4 kW in the case of electric engines.  DARS 1355 -2:2020  
4 © ARSO 2020 — All rights reserved  (vii)  "Category  L7": A vehicle with four wheels, other than that classified for the category L6, 
whose unladen mass is not more than 400 kg (550 kg for vehicles intended for carrying goods), 
not including the mass of batteries in the case of electric vehicles and whose m aximum 
continuous rated power does not exceed 15 kW.  
 
3.1.6.2   
Category M  
Power -driven vehicles having at least four wheels and used for the carriage of passengers  
 
(i) "Category M1": Vehicles used for the carriage of passengers and comprising not more than 
eight seats in addition to the driver's seat.  
(ii) "Category M2": Vehicles used for the carriage of passengers, comprising more than eight 
seats in addition to the driver's seat, and having a maximum mass not exceeding 5 tonnes.  
(iii) "Category M3": Vehicles used for t he carriage of passengers, comprising more than eight 
seats in addition to the driver's seat, and having a maximum mass exceeding 5 tonnes.  
 
3.1.6.3   
Category N  
Power -driven vehicles having at least four wheels and used for the carriage of goods  
 
(i) "Category  N1": Vehicles used for the carriage of goods and having a maximum mass not exceeding 3.5 
tonnes.  
(ii) "Category N2": Vehicles used for the carriage of goods and having a maximum mass exceeding 3.5 
tonnes but not exceeding 12 tonnes.  
(iii) "Category N3": Vehicles use d for the carriage of goods and having a maximum mass exceeding 12 
tonnes.  
 
3.1.6.4   
Category O  
Trailers (including semi –trailers)  
 
(i) "Category O1": Trailers with a maximum mass not exceeding 0.75 tonnes.  
(ii) "Category O2": Trailers with a maximum mass exceedin g 0.75 tonnes, but not exceeding 3.5 tonnes.  
(iii) "Category O3": Trailers with a maximum mass exceeding 3.5 tonnes, but not exceeding 10 tonnes.  
(iv) "Category O4": Trailers with a maximum mass exceeding 10 tonnes.  
 
3.2 Terminology  
 
Non-specific terms such as excessive, extensive, significant, impaired and such like expressions are 
used where finite limits are inappropriate to apply, and the Vehicle Examiner is the final arbiter in such 
cases.  
 
3.3 Abbreviations  
 
ANPR  Automat ic Number Plate Recognition  
 
FIA Federation Internationale de l’Automobile being the governing body of motor sport and 
which promotes safe, sustainable and accessible mobility for all road users across the 
world.  
 
GPS  Global Positioning System  
 
LHD left hand drive designed for operation in countries where traffic drives on the right.  
 DARS 1355 -2:2020  
© ARSO 2020 — All rights reserved  5 RHD  right hand drive designed for operation in countries where traffic drives on the left.  
 
UN ECE  United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.  
 
VIN Vehicle Identification Number  
 
4 Administrative requirements  
 
4.1 Application form 
 
The vehicle examiner must check that the Application Form for Vehicle Design Compliance is fully 
relevant to the vehicle to be examined. In particular, the vehicle examiner must inspect and record the 
VIN or Chassis Numb er and, if applicable, Registration Plate details by obtaining these from the 
vehicle itself and not from any documentation, then checking these details against the detail on the 
Application Form.  
 
4.2 Evidence of vehicle having been presented  
 
An automate d system must be provided to take photographs of the vehicle at random during testing 
showing its front ¾ including its registration plate and at the same time showing the testing station in 
the background. Additional photographs showing the rear ¾ of the vehicle and its body together with 
a photograph of the VIN or chassis number must also be taken and filed.  
 
Additional requirements to minimise fraud are intended to be introduced such that the photographs, 
plate number, date, time and GPS co -ordinates sh ould be recorded by the ANPR cameras. This 
ensures that photographic proof is available that the vehicle was tested. The fingerprints of the 
applicant are to be verified and all documents, including signatures scanned and recorded on the 
system.  
 
4.3 Vehic le design compliance certificate  
 
Vehicles complying with the requirements of this standard  must carry a vehicle design compliance 
certificate on the vehicle  which certifies compliance with the requirements of this standard.  
 
5 Procedural matters regarding  the actual test  
 
Circumstances where an examiner may refuse to examine a vehicle or to complete an examination  
 
(a) If the information on the vehicle does not correspond with the information on the application;  
 
(b) if the information on the vehicle appears to have been tampered with;  
 
(c) if the vehicle is so dirty that the examiner would be unable to examine it efficiently;  
 
(d) if the vehicle cannot be started or driven;  
 
(e) if a defect is detected which renders the vehicle unsafe or otherwise pre sents a risk to the 
examiner;  
 
(f) the person who presented the vehicle for test is uncooperative, or  
 
(g) the person who presented the vehicle for test refuses to leave the vicinity of the test area so 
as to give the examiner the privacy he requires, exce pt in the case of single personnel 
operating a lane where the examiner welcomes the assistance provided by the driver, or in 
the case where a vehicle adapted for operation by a disabled person is not able to be 
operated safely by the examiner and the exami ner welcomes the presence of the disabled 
person to assist by operating the vehicle.  
 DARS 1355 -2:2020  
6 © ARSO 2020 — All rights reserved  6 Assessment of compliance to vehicle design safety standards 
applicable on “date of entry into service” and thereafter  
 
For both new and used vehicles entering into service for the first time from the date listed in Table 1 
and thereafter as part of the normal roadworthiness checking for such vehicles, from the appropriate 
date. 
 
6.1 Evidence of compliance – Reject if  
 
(a) there are no test reports or certification fr om acceptable sources being presented for 
assessment to show that the vehicle and its equipment was manufactured to comply with 
each of the vehicle design safety standards listed in Table 1 or to the equivalent standards of 
the countries or regions listed in Table 2 and which are appropriate to the vehicle category, or  
 
(b) any of the following visual assessment indicators in 6.2 are absent which are indicative of 
whether compliance with the appropriate design standards is likely to have been achieved, or  
 
(c) compliance with a) or b) above cannot be ascertained.  
 
NOTE  Indications of compliance to one or more of the modern safety design standards may in some cases be taken as 
indicative of compliance to a range of safety design standards.  
 
6.2 Visual assess ment indications – Reject if  
 
When inspected before selection for shipment or when manufactured or when submitted for 
inspection for certificate of fitness examination and it is found that there is no evidence of compliance 
for any of the following requirements to be satisfied, except that items 6.2 c) and 6.2 d) may be fitted 
before inspection for certificate of fitness:  
 
(a) Braking – the ABS piping or sensors or wiring or control panel indicators are not fitted, and if 
ESC is required to be fitted, when an ESC indicator is not present, a nd if brakes are not fitted 
to all the wheels on the vehicle.  
 
(b) Lighting – the colour, intensity, switching and positioning of all lighting and signalling and 
reflective equipment is not standard according to the experience of the examiner with other 
similar vehicle models.  
 
(c) Contour tape is not “E -marked” and showing “R104”.  
 
(d) Chevrons are not of the dimensions and material of the high intensity grade retro -reflective 
material specified in ARS 1355 -1 or UN ECE R69 vehicles designed not to exceed 30km/h,  or 
UN ECE R70 long and heavy goods vehicles.  
 
(e) Any glass is not safety glass and is not “E -marked” and showing “R43” and in addition 
windscreens are not marked “laminated” or marked “//” or are not otherwise clearly marked as 
safety glass.  
 
(f) Mirror housings  or mirror glass are not E -marked or are not of the normally acceptable radius 
of curvature, and exterior mirrors are not in place at each side of the vehicle. Additionally in 
the case of goods vehicles over 7  500kg GVM if there are no additional “wide ang le” mirrors 
which show the road to the immediate left and right of the driver generally as shown in ARS 
1355 -3. 
 
(g) Tyres are not E -Marked or DoT marked or showing the markings of another approval 
authority and passenger tyres do not have a tread wear indicat or. 
 
(h) Emission control system on petrol engine vehicles has no catalytic converter fitted, or if 
warning systems indicate that maintenance of the emission system is required, or for testing 
stations which have emission testing equipment and limits laid down  in national legislation, DARS 1355 -2:2020  
© ARSO 2020 — All rights reserved  7 such limits are exceeded. For diesel engine vehicles examine the engine or documentation to 
assess compliance.  
 
NOTE  In some countries where the fuel quality is inadequate to support the latest technology engines and their 
emission control systems there may be rules in place to prohibit importation of such engined vehicles. This warning 
applies to both petrol and diesel engine vehicles.  
 
(i) Safety belts do not bear a certification label or marking (such as E -marking) on a label  or on 
the tongue and are not of the inertia type on front outboard seats of all vehicle categories, and 
on rear outboard seats of passenger cars, and there is not a driver alert to warn the driver if 
the driver’s safety belt is not fastened.  
 
(j) Rear underru n dimensions and position do not correspond to the details given in 6.20 of ARS 
1355 -1. 
 
(k) Speedometer is not fitted or if it is not functioning or is not show ing the correct units for the 
recipient country.  
 
(l) Audible warning is unacceptably loud or weak.  
 
(m) Warning triangle is not supplied or the supplied triangle is not “E -marked” and showing “R27”.  
 
(n) Frontal collision – in the case of category M1 vehicles the presence of airbags is not indicated 
on dashboard, A or B -pillars, sun visor, safety belts, owner's manual or warning lights. 
(Mandatory application under UN ECE R94 is limited to M1 not exceeding  2 500kg GVM, but 
other vehicles especially N1 are often designed to comply but some are not designed to 
comply.)  
 
(o) Side impact – the presence of airbags or side curtain airbags to reduce injuries is not 
indicated on the seats or elsewhere in the vehicle or  in the owner’s manual or the airbag 
check -light does not illuminate when the ignition is switched on. (Mandatory application under 
UN ECE R95 is limited to M1 and N1 with seat squabs not more than 700mm above ground).  
 
(p) Tilt angle for buses1 – adequate doc umentary evidence cannot be supplied to support at least 
28 degrees tilt without tipping over.  
 
(q) Strength of superstructure of buses1 – adequate documentary evidence cannot be supplied to 
support compliance.  
 
(r) There is evidence that outstanding safety recall procedures have not been conducted.  
 
6.3 Compliance  
 
Vehicles to be introduced for entry into service and operation on public roads after the date of 
introduction of this Part 2 of the specification, must be inspected to comply with the requirements  
detailed in Table 1 relevant to the category of vehicle, or alternatively to comply with the national 
requirements of th ose source countries whose requirements are considered to be functionally 
equivalent and which are detailed in Table 2.  
 
Table 1 — Requ irements for vehicles entering into service on or after 1 March 2021  
 
Column 1  Column 2  Column 3  Column 4  
Type of 
Equipment  UN ECE Regulation2 Categories of vehicles 
affected  Level of UN ECE Regulation 
available for study3.  
                                                 
1 Compliance with these requirements is not possible to assess visually and as such, members may wish to exempt 
compliance, unless means can be found to source documentary evidence of comp liance.  
 
2 These UN ECE Regulation or Overprinted Standards of the levels specified in Column 4 are freely available on request to the 
Secretariat. Later levels are freely available from the UN ECE Website at https://www.unece.org/trans/main/welcwp29.html then 
 DARS 1355 -2:2020  
8 © ARSO 2020 — All rights reserved  Column 1  Column 2  Column 3  Column 4  
Type of 
Equipment  UN ECE Regulation2 Categories of vehicles 
affected  Level of UN ECE Regulation 
available for study3.  
Braking  ECE R13H  Passenger vehicle up to 9 seats 
including driver, and goods 
vehicles up to 3500kg GVM  Revision 2, Supplement 11 to the 
original regulation – 30 January 
2011  
ECE R13  Buses with 10 or more seats 
and goods vehicles over 
3500kg GVM  Revision 6, Supplement 4 to the 
10 Series of amendments – 
10 November 2007  
Lighting  ECE R48  All Revision 3, Supplement 8 to the 
02 Series of amendments – 
12 August 2004  
Contour tape  
(May be added 
after arrival)  ECE R104  Buses with 10 or more seats 
including the driver, and goods 
vehicles over 3500kg GVM or 
over 7m long.  Revision 1, Supplement 6 to the 
original regulation – 24 October 
2009  
Chevrons  
(May be added 
after arrival).  ARS 1355 -1, Annex 
B Over 3500kg GVM  UN ECE R69 Revision 1 and R70 
Revisi on 1 are alternatives to the 
requirements in Column 2  
Safety glass  ECE R43  All Revision 2, Supplement 7 to the 
original regulation – 16 July 2003  
Rear view  ECE R46  All Revision 2, Supplement 4 to the 
02 Series of amendments – 
23 June 2005  
Tyres - 
passenger  ECE R30  Passenger  Revision 3, Supplement 14 to the 
02 Series of amendments – 
18 January 2006  
Tyres - 
commercial  ECE R54  Passenger & Goods  Revision 2, Supplement 15 to the 
original regulation – 30 October 
2003  
Emissions – 
Light vehicles  Euro 2  Applied in EU to new 
registrations 01 January 1997  UN ECE R83.05 or 70/220 EEC 
amended by 2003/76/EC ECE 
R83/03 and ECE R83/04  
Emissions - 
HCV  Euro II – Ensure that 
fuel quality supports 
whatever emission 
level is specified.  Applied in EU during 1995  UN ECE R49/02 or 91/542/EEC  
Inertia safety 
belts on all 
outboard seats  ECE R16  All M1, M2 & N1  Revision 7, Supplement 2 to the 
06 Series of amendments – 
26 July 2012  
Rev 4 and Rev 5 now available  
Rear underrun  ECE R58  Goods vehicles over 3500kg 
GVM  Revision  2, Supplement 02 Series 
of amendments – 11 July 2008  
Speedometer  ECE R39  All Revision 1, Supplement 5 to 
original regulation – 7 December 
2002  
Audible warning  ECE R28  All Original regulation  
Warning triangle  ECE R27  All Revision 2, Supplement 1 to the 
04 Series of amendments – 
9 October 2014  
Frontal collision  ECE R94  Passenger vehicles up to 9 
seats including driver  Revision 1, Supplement 3 to the 
01 Series of amendments – 
2 February 2007  
Lateral collision  ECE R95  Passenger vehicles up to 9 
seats including driver  Revision 1, Supplement 03 Series 
of amendments – 23 June 2011  
                                                                                                                                                        
click on UN Regulations (1958 Agreement ) then Regulations (Addenda to the 1958 Agreement)  then select the number of the 
regulation required from the groups shown.  
 
3 Compliance to any Revision level or to any Approval marking level of the UN ECE Regulation stated in Column 2 is 
acceptable or to the equivalent national regulation of the country of origin shown in Table 2 – *** except in the case of 
Emissions in Member States where the fuel quality does not support the latest technology engines.  An overprint standard of 
the level in Column 4 is available free -of-charge from the Secretariat and in most cases from the UN ECE websi te.  French and 
Portuguese translations of the UN ECE Regulations are available at https://ec.europa.eu › attachments › translations › 
renditions › native  DARS 1355 -2:2020  
© ARSO 2020 — All rights reserved  9 Column 1  Column 2  Column 3  Column 4  
Type of 
Equipment  UN ECE Regulation2 Categories of vehicles 
affected  Level of UN ECE Regulation 
available for study3.  
Tilt-angle 
stability test  ECE R107  
28 Degree Tilt Annex 
3 Clause 7.4 Stability 
test 10 or more seats, M2 & M3 but 
using 68 kg/ person and ignore 
standees.  Revision 4, Supplemen t 3 to the 
04 Series of amendments – 
10 June 2014. Clause 7.4  
Superstructure  ECE R66  More than 22 passengers  Revision 1, Supplement 1 to the 
original – 09 November 2005  
Data Plate  ARS 1355 -1, 
Clause 6.2 Goods vehicles < 3  500kg GVM 
and passenger cars  Showing the GVM, GCM & front 
and rear axle capacities.  
Data Plate  ARS 1355 -1, 
Clause 6.2 Goods vehicles over 3  500kg 
GVM and passenger vehicles 
with 10 or more seats and 
trailers.  Showing manufacturers 
technically permissible masses  
Brakes on all 
wheels  ARS 1355 -1,  
Clause 6.3.7 Category O2, O3, O4  All levels of ECE R13  
Single type of 
semi -trailer 
suspension  ARS 1355 -1,  
Clause 6.17.5  Category O2,O3,O4  No ECE Requirement  
 
 DARS 1355 -2:2020  
10 © ARSO 2020 — All rights reserved  Table 2 — Alternative requirements to those of the UN ECE Listed in Table 1 according to the 
domestic legislation of the identified countries  
 
Type of 
Equipment  UN ECE Regulation 
or Overprinted 
Standard4 Categories of 
vehicles affected  Standards of other nations which are 
understood to be directly equivalent to 
UN ECE or which are based on similar 
and adequate requirements and are 
functionally equivalent 5 
Braking  ECE R13H  M1, N1  EU, Australia, China, Japan, Korea, Brazil, 
Gulf States,  USA, India, RSA  
ECE R13  M2/M3, N2/N3  EU, Australia, China, Japan, Korea, Brazil, 
Gulf States, USA, India, RSA  
Lighting  ECE R48  All EU, Australia, China, Japan, Korea, Brazil, 
Gulf States, USA, India, RSA  
Contour tape  ECE R104  M2/M3, N2/N3 + 
Goods over  7m & all 
O EU, Australia, China, Korea, Brazil, Gulf 
States  
Safety glass  ECE R43  All EU, Australia, China, Japan, Korea, Brazil, 
Gulf States, USA, India, RSA  
Rear view  ECE R46  All EU, Australia, Japan, USA  
Tyres - 
passenger  ECE R30  Passenger  EU, Australia, China, Japan, USA  
Tyres - 
commercial  ECE R54  Passenger & Goods  EU, Australia, China, USA  
Emissions – 
Light vehicle  Euro 2  
Ensure that fuel 
quality supports 
whatever emission 
level is specified.  Passenger & Goods  EU, Australia, China, Japan, USA 
Emissions – 
HCV  Euro II 
Ensure that fuel 
quality supports 
whatever emission 
level is specified.  Passenger & Goods  EU, Australia, China, Japan, USA  
Inertia safety 
belts on all 
outboard seats  ECE R16  All M1, M2 & N1  EU, Australia, China, Japan, Korea, Brazil, 
Gulf States, USA, India, RSA  
Rear underrun  ECE R58  Goods vehicles over 
3 500kg GVM  Unknown  
Speedometer  ECE R39  All EU, Australia, China, Japan, USA  
Audible warning  ECE R28  All EU, Australia, China, Japan, USA  
Warning triangle  ECE R27  All EU, Australia, China, Korea, Brazil  
Frontal collision  ECE R94  M1 EU, Australia, China, Japan, Korea, Brazil, 
Gulf States, USA  
Lateral collision  ECE R95  M1 EU, Australia, China, Japan, USA  
Tilt angle  ECE R107  
28 Degrees  More than 22 
passengers  EU, Australia,  RSA 
Superstructure  ECE R66  More than 22 
passengers  EU 
 
  
                                                 
4 These UN ECE Regulation or Overprinted Standards of the levels specified in Column 4 of Table 1 are freely available on 
request to the Secretariat. Later levels are freely available from the UN ECE Website at 
https://www.unece.org/trans/main/welcwp29.html then click on UN Regulations (1958 Agreement ), follow ed by Regulations 
(Addenda to the 1958 Agreement)  then select the number o f the regulation required from the groups shown.  
 
5 The term “functionally equivalent” is intended to convey the interpretation that those options in Table 2 which are not ident ical 
in technical content to a UN Regulation nevertheless achieve what is considered to be adequate safety performance by the 
regulatory authority that developed them. For example, FMVSS 121 is considered to be functionally equivalent to UN 
Regulation 13. Both have standards of braking performance and of safety back -up systems considered to be acceptable by 
regulatory authorities wit h many years of experience.  DARS 1355 -2:2020  
© ARSO 2020 — All rights reserved  11 Bibliography  
 
 
SADC HT 105 -2:2019, SADC Harmonized Text — Vehicle Standards — Specification for Vehicle 
Roadworthiness — Part 2: Roadworthiness of vehicles prior to entry into service, and thereafter  
 
 
 
 
 DARS 1355 -2:2020 
© ARSO 2020 — All rights reserved