Overview
ISO/PAS 21779-1:2025 establishes standardized test methods for evaluating the performance of acceleration control pedal error (ACPE) systems in road vehicles. The scope of this international standard is limited to light vehicles, specifically those classified as "Category 1-1 vehicles" under the UN-ECE regulations. The document focuses on car-to-car collision scenarios from a standstill, where unintended acceleration due to driver pedal misapplication can lead to forward or reverse accidents. The test methods outlined in this specification help manufacturers and safety organizations objectively assess ACPE system effectiveness in preventing or mitigating collisions.
Key Topics
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Test Scope and Applicability
- Applies to ACPE systems as defined in ISO/PAS 19486
- Limited to light vehicles (passenger cars under UN-ECE Category 1-1)
- Excludes heavy vehicles and motorcycles
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Accident Scenarios
- Evaluates vehicle behavior during straight-line acceleration from standstill
- Focused on incidents caused by drivers unintentionally pressing the accelerator instead of the brake pedal
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Test Environmental Conditions
- Standardizes ambient temperature (-5°C to 40°C), wind speed (≤5 m/s), and test surface (dry, paved, minimal slope)
- Specifies acceptable visibility and environmental factors to ensure consistent test results
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Vehicle and System Preparation
- Requirements for tire pressure, brake system condition, drive shaft selection, and ACPE device settings
- Details on pre-test vehicle initialization and brake system break-in procedures
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Measurement and Validation
- Key measurements: braking-off time, accelerator-on time, vehicle position, speed, and brake temperature
- Data capture requires high-accuracy instrumentation for position, speed, and temperature
- Validation criteria to ensure consistency and repeatability of test outcomes
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Documentation and Reporting
- Recording of environmental and vehicle data, test results, and collision speeds
- Calculation of rate-of-speed-change to quantify ACPE system performance
Applications
- Automotive Manufacturers: Facilitates repeatable and objective evaluation of ACPE systems, supporting design validation, supplier selection, and regulatory compliance for passenger cars.
- Vehicle Safety Organizations: Provides an international benchmark for certifying or auditing vehicles equipped with ACPE functions to reduce pedal misapplication accidents.
- Regulatory Bodies: Enables the establishment and enforcement of vehicle safety requirements related to unintended acceleration incidents.
- Research and Development: Useful for the development and refinement of ACPE technologies and driver assistance systems aimed at improving vehicle safety in low-speed car-to-car collision scenarios.
Related Standards
- ISO/PAS 19486 - Specifies definitions and system requirements for ACPE systems.
- ISO 8855 - Road vehicles - Vehicle dynamics and road-holding ability - Vocabulary.
- ISO 15037-1:2019 - General test methods for vehicle dynamics in passenger cars.
- ISO 19206-1 & ISO 19206-3 - Requirements for test targets used in the evaluation of active safety functions.
- ISO 22733-1 - Advanced emergency braking systems (AEBS) testing methods.
Practical Value
Adoption of ISO/PAS 21779-1:2025 supports industry-wide consistency in evaluating ACPE effectiveness, directly contributing to the reduction of common parking and low-speed accidents associated with pedal confusion. By providing clear procedures for testing and reporting, this standard enhances consumer safety, streamlines compliance processes, and supports the global harmonization of vehicle safety assessments related to unintended acceleration control technologies.