COMMISSION DIRECTIVE
of 6 December 1991
adapting to technical progress Council Directive 74/297/EEC in respect of the behaviour of the steering wheel and column in an impact
(91/662/EEC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,
Having regard to Council Directive 74/297/EEC of 4 June 1974 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the interior fittings of motor vehicles (the behaviour of the steering mechanism in the event of an impact) (1), and in particular Article 5 thereof,
Whereas, in view of experience gained and of the state of the art, it is now appropriate, in the case of a frontal impact, to improve protection offered to the driver by controlling the behaviour of the sterring wheel and mechanism which is the aim of Directive 74/297/EEC, by aligning it with the latest developments in the relevant Regulation of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and by the introduction of some further improvements;
Whereas, in view of experience gained from accidents indicating that the steering wheel should be soft to protect the driver's face from serious injury, further modifications to this Directive should be introduced for this purpose; whereas, as several proposals for a test method are available, the Commission should bring forward a further proposal to the Committee for Adaptation to Technical Progress by 31 December 1991;
Whereas the provisions of this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee for the Adaptation to Technical Progress of the Directives on Motor Vehicles,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:
Article 1
The Annexes to Directive 74/297/EEC are hereby amended in accordance with the Annexes to this Directive.
Article 2
1. With effect from 1 October 1992 no Member State may
(a) - refuse, in respect of a type of vehicle, to grant EC type-approval, or to issue the copy of the certificate provided for in the last indent of Article 10 (1) of Council Directive 70/156/EEC (2), or to grant national type-approval, or
- prohibit the entry into service of vehicles,
on grounds relating to their steering mechanism if this has been approved in accordance with Directive 74/297/EEC as amended by this Directive;
(b)
- refuse to grant EC type-approval in respect of a type of steering control intended for installation in a vehicle or vehicles, or
- prohibit the placing on the market of steering controls intended for installation in a vehicle or vehicles
if the said steering control complies with the requirements of Directive 74/297/EEC as amended by this Directive.
2. With effect from 1 October 1996, in respect of motor vehicles of category M1 which are not forward control, Member States:
- shall no longer issue the copy of the certificate provided for in the last indent of Article 10 (1) of Directive 70/156/EEC, and
- may refuse to grant national type-approval
on grounds relating to the steering mechanism if this does not comply with the requirements of Directive 74/297/EEC as amended by this Directive.
3. With effect from 1 October 1995, in respect of forward-control motor vehicles of category M1 and all N1 motor vehicles with a permissible maximum mass not exceeding 1 500 kilograms, Member States:
- shall no longer issue the copy of the certificate provided for in the last indent of Article 10 (1) of Directive 70/156/EEC, and
- may refuse to grant national type-approval
on grounds relating to the steering mechanism if this does not comply with the requirements of Directive 74/297/EEC as amended by this Directive.
4. With effect from 1 October 1996, in respect of types of steering control, Member States:
- shall no longer issue the copy of the certificate provided for in the last indent of Article 10 (1) of Directive 70/156/EEC, and
- may refuse to grant national type-approval
on grounds relating to steering controls if these steering controls do not comply with the requirements of paragraphs 5.2, 5.3 and 5.4 of Annex I to Directive 74/297/EEC as amended by this Directive.
5. With effect from 1 October 1996 Member States may prohibit the first entry into service of vehicles in which the steering mechanisms do not comply with the requirements of Directive 74/297/EEC, as amended by this Directive.
However, this shall not apply until 1 October 1997:
- to a forward-control vehicle of category M1, or
- to a vehicle of category N1 with a maximum permissible mass not exceeding 1 500 kilograms, or
- in the case of a vehicle of category M1 other than a forward-control vehicle, with respect to the requirements laid down in paragraph 5.1 of Annex I (maximum vertical displacement of the steering column).
6. With effect from 1 October 1995 Member States may prohibit the placing on the market of steering controls intended for the installation in a vehicle or vehicles if these steering controls do not comply with the requirements laid down in paragraphs 5.2, 5.3 and 5.4 of Annex I to Directive 74/297/EEC, as amended by this Directive.
Article 3
1. Member States shall bring into force the legislative, regulatory and administrative provisions necessary in order to comply with this Directive before 1 October 1992 and shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.
When the Member States adopt these provisions these shall contain a reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such a reference at the time of their official publication. The procedure for such reference shall be adopted by Member States.
2. Member States shall ensure that the terms of the main provisions of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive are communicated to the Commission.
Article 4
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 6 December 1991.