Efforts to make children safer in cars

Child restraint systems

The requirements specified in the recently revised Child restraint systems for use in motor vehicles AS/NZS 1754:2010 are intended to reduce the likelihood of injury to a child seated in a restraint in the event of an accident.

AS/NZS 1754:2010 specifies the design, performance, and function of child restraints, including suitable materials, packaging, labelling, and marking provisions. The Standard now also classifies restraints by height and approximate age ranges rather than the mass of a child. This includes requirements for eight types of child restraints, ranging from those suitable for newborns through to children up to 10 years of age (up to 138 cm in height).

The 2010 Fully Networked Car Workshop

The 2010 Fully Networked Car Workshop organised by the World Standards Cooperation (WSC), a partnership between ISO, IEC, and ITU, was held in early March at the Geneva International Motor Show 2010 and focused on the latest developments in technology and network requirements for electric cars.

For the 5^th year running, WSC brought together the key players involved in the development of Standards to present their perspectives and strategies on the current and future role of information and communication technologies (ICT) in motor vehicles.

Fuel cells propel trains to a hydrogen future

By Jeanne Erdmann, reprinted with permission from IEC E-TECH, March 2010.

A 'switch-locomotive' prototype recently rolled along the tracks in January in sunny Los Angeles, California, USA and more prototypes are under development worldwide.

'Fuel cells are a very attractive solution for trains in consideration that their application can eliminate the use of critical elements like pantographs and overhead contact lines,' says Giansvaldo Fadin, Vice President of Far Systems and Convenor, IEC technical committee 9, 'Electrical equipment and systems for railways', working groups 43 and 46. 'Indeed the introduction of fuel cells on the trains could reduce the infrastructure complexity.'

Safety and performance of electric car batteries

Electric cars were popular around the turn of the twentieth century when they had the technical edge over fuel-powered cars. Their ensuing role in the development of the automotive industry was small. They resurfaced in the 1970s, but remained a minority until the 1990s with the emergence of environmental concerns about fossil fuels.

In the first years of the twenty-first century, many car manufacturers designed and produced their own full-electric vehicles or hybrid-electric vehicles, combining a conventional (usually fossil fuel-powered) powertrain with some form of electric propulsion.

STANDARD IN DEVELOPMENT

SAA/SNZ HB 76 Dangerous goods – Initial emergency response guide

Committee: HB76
Manager: John Kelly
Estimated publication date: April 2010
Comments: HB 76:1997 was developed as a joint handbook but subsequent editions, 2004 in Australia and 2003 and 2008 in New Zealand, have been Australian and New Zealand only handbooks. The handbook is now being revised as a joint document. A public comment draft was issued in New Zealand only in early March 2010, with publication scheduled for late April 2010.

Transport of dangerous goods on land

Committee: P5433 A1
Project Manager: Bruce Taylor
Estimated Publication Date: August 2010
Comments: Work is underway to update NZS 5433:2007 with the latest changes published by the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (UNRTDG), and changes introduced under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996. A committee of technical experts has been established to oversee and advise on the necessary changes. A draft of amendments has been unavoidably delayed, but is expected to be released for public comment around May or June 2010.