China establishes national standard for door-opening warning systems
In response to the growing need for enhanced road safety, China has introduced a national standard for door-opening warning (DOW) systems, designated as GB/T 44173-2024. This standard aims to mitigate accidents involving vehicle doors opening into the path of pedestrians and cyclists.
As China’s cities expand and its road network grows more complex, ensuring safety for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians has become increasingly urgent. With more than 440 million vehicles and 530 million licensed drivers on the roads, the scale of the challenge is considerable. Yet, despite this rapid motorisation, the country has seen a decline in traffic accidents – a trend supported by targeted safety innovations tailored to the realities of urban traffic. One of the latest developments is a national standard for door-opening warning (DOW) systems, aimed at preventing collisions caused by vehicle doors opening into the path of oncoming road users.
The National Standardisation Administration of China (SAC) has issued the GB/T 44173-2024 national standard to standardise its use and performance. The system uses AI, relying on vision-based or multi-sensor fusion algorithms, to detect nearby traffic and warn occupants before a door is opened.
Currently, more than ten million vehicles in China are equipped with DOW systems. Their adoption has led to measurable safety benefits, such as fewer door-related accidents, reduced injury claims, and lower repair costs. The initiative also aligns with wider efforts to improve vehicle quality and public health outcomes.
The standard integrates principles from international norms, including ISO 26262 for functional safety, ISO 9001 for quality management, and key ISO environmental guidelines. This alignment ensures consistency across the automotive value chain, from research and development to production and after-sales support.
China’s experience with DOW systems will inform the drafting of ISO 25354, a forthcoming international standard for door-opening warning technologies. By contributing data, expertise, and practical insights, China is helping shape global benchmarks for road safety in an era of increasingly intelligent vehicles.
