COMMISSION DIRECTIVE of 21 November 1979 adapting to technical progress Council Directive 76/756/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the installation of the lighting and light-signalling devices on motor vehicles and their trailers (80/233/EEC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,
Having regard to Council Directive 70/156/EEC of 6 February 1970 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the type approval of motor vehicles and their trailers (1), as last amended by Directive 78/547/EEC (2), and in particular Articles 11, 12 and 13 thereof,
Having regard to Council Directive 76/756/EEC of 27 July 1976 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the installation of lighting and light-signalling devices on motor vehicles and their trailers (3),
Whereas in the light of the experience gained and the present state of the art it is now possible to amplify certain requirements and bring them more into line with actual test conditions;
Whereas these amendments are to be followed by further amendments at present being examined, the effect of which will be to render certain requirements more stringent with a view to increasing the safety both of the occupants of the vehicles and of other road users;
Whereas the measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee for the Adaptation to Technical Progress of Directives for the Removal of Technical Barriers to Trade in Motor Vehicles,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:
Article 1
Directive 76/756/EEC is hereby amended as follows: 1. Articles 2 and 3 are replaced by a new Article 2 as follows:
"Article 2
1. With effect from 1 May 1980, no Member State may, on grounds relating to the installation of the lighting and light-signalling devices, whether mandatory or optional, listed in items 1.5.7 to 1.5.20 of Annex I: - refuse, in respect of a type of vehicle, to grant EEC type approval, to issue the document referred to in the last indent of Article 10 (1) of Directive 70/156/EEC, or to grant national type approval, or
- prohibit the entry into service of vehicles,
if the installation of the said lighting and light-signalling devices on this type of vehicle or on these vehicles complies with the provisions of this Directive.
2. With effect from 1 January 1981, Member States: - may no longer issue the document referred to in the last indent of Article 10 (1) of Directive 70/156/EEC in respect of a type of vehicle in (1)OJ No L 42, 23.2.1970, p. 1. (2)OJ No L 168, 26.6.1978, p. 39. (3)OJ No L 262, 27.9.1976, p. 1. which the installation of the said lighting and light-signalling devices does not comply with the provisions of this Directive,
- may refuse to grant national type approval in respect of a type of vehicle in which the installation of the said lighting and light-signalling devices does not comply with the provisions of this Directive.
3. With effect from 1 October 1982, Member States may prohibit the entry into service of vehicles in respect of which a certificate pursuant to Article 10 of Directive 70/156/EEC concerning the installation of the said lighting and light-signalling devices was issued after 1 October 1979, where the installation of these devices does not comply with the provisions of this Directive."
2. Articles 4, 5, 6 and 7 become Articles 3, 4, 5 and 6 respectively.
3. Annexes I and II are amended in accordance with the Annex to this Directive.
Article 2
Member States shall bring into force the provisions necessary in order to comply with this Directive by 30 April 1980 and shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.
Article 3
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 21 November 1979.