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based on empirical data. He added that the expert from the United States of America had agreed to explore their ability to provide further PMHS data, but it seemed likely that they would not be able to complete any related work before the end of 2017. Accordingly, AC.3 agreed to extend the time mandate for IWG to allow finalization of its work. by using an empirical approach if the data could not be obtained. 143. At the 175th session of WP.29, the Chair of the IWG on Phase 2 of UN GTR No. 7 on head restraints, informed WP.29 that IWG had not been able to establish a correlation between PMHS and BioRID responses. Developing injury criteria directly from PMHS testing required still further research. However, he explained that the IWG intended to restart its activity to submit an official proposal of amendments to the UN GTR based on empirical data at the December 2018 session of GRSP. The proposed amendments would also be introduced as a revision to UN Regulation R17. The amendments would be presented as: (a) an informal document to introduce the latest development of the IWG on injury criteria, (b) the final status report of the IWG, and (c) a proposal of Addendum 1 to the M.R.1 to incorporate drawings and specifications of the BioRID. He expected finalization of this work within one year of activity and therefore requested an extension of the mandate. AC.3 agreed to the extension of the mandate until June 2019. 144. At the 176th session of WP.29, the representative of Japan, as technical sponsor, reported on the progress of work. He recalled that at the 175th session of WP.29 the Chair of the IWG had informed AC.3 of his intention to restart activity. He recalled that a working document on GTR No.7, phase 2 activity had been submitted to the sixty- fourth session of GRSP. He explained that GRSP had discussed the remaining items and that the IWG would consider the remaining points in square brackets in preparation for the sixty-fifth session of GRSP session in May 2019. 145. At the 177th session of WP.29, the representative of Japan, as technical sponsor for these activities, reported the progress of work of the IWG on Phase 2 of UN GTR No.7 on head restraints. He stated that the Chair of the IWG had informed AC.3 of his intention to restart activity at the 2018 June session of WP.29. He recalled that the working document on UNR GTR No.7, phase 2 activity had been submitted to the last GRSP session in December 2018. He further noted that an informal document containing a proposal to remove the remaining square brackets in that working document had been jointly prepared by Germany, the Netherlands and Japan. The representative of Japan explained that, in parallel, a proposal to amend UN Regulation No.17 in line with UN GTR No.7, phase 2 had been jointly prepared by Japan and the European Commission. The representative of CLEPA had also submitted their proposals for injury criteria and the static test method. He added that GRSP had discussed the remaining items and had decided to continue discussing these points in the IWG until the next GRSP session in May 2019.

- 146. The representative of Japan highlighted that a working document for the next GRSP in May 2019, which took CLEPA comments into consideration, had already been prepared, retaining the square brackets on the injury criteria intended for discussion at the IWG. The IWG, at its next meeting, would prepare another informal document containing a proposal for injury criteria supported by the group and would remove the square brackets that remained in the working documents that had been prepared for the next GRSP.

147. At the 178th session of WP.29, the representative of Japan, as technical sponsor, reported on the progress of work of the IWG on Phase 2 of UN GTR No.7 on head restraints. He explained that at the May 2019 session of GRSP, IWG had proposed an advanced proposal that removed several square brackets and therefore solved the main issues. He added that the draft amendment would introduce injury criteria focusing on the Neck Injury Criterion (NIC), upper lower neck force, flexion and extension moment