1977L0389 — EN — 23.05.1977 — 000.001 — 1
This document is meant purely as a documentation tool and the institutions do not assume any liability for its contents
►B COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
of 17May 197 7
on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to motor-vehicle towing-devices
(77/389/EEC)
(OJ L 145, 13.6.1977, p. 41)
Corrected by:
►C1Corrigendum, OJ L 40, 13.2.1998, p. 19 (77/389)
1977L0389 — EN — 23.05.1977 — 000.001 — 2
▼B
COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
of 17May 197 7
on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to
motor-vehicle towing-devices
(77/389/EEC)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic
Community, and in particular Article 100 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament(
1),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee(2),
Whereas the technical requirements which motor vehicles must satisfy
pursuant to national laws relate inter alia to their towing-devices;
Whereas those requirements differ from one Member State to another;
whereas it is therefore necessary that all Member States adopt the samerequirements either in addition to or in place of their existing rules, inorder, in particular, to allow the EEC type-approval procedure, whichwas the subject of Council Directive 70/156/EEC of 6 February 1970 onthe approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to thetype-approval of motor vehicles and their trailers(
3), to be introduced in
respect of each type of vehicle;
Whereas approximation of the national laws relating to motor vehicles
entails mutual recognition by the Member States of the checks carriedout by each of them on the basis of the common requirements,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:
Article 1
For the purposes of this Directive, ‘vehicle' means any motor vehicle
intended for use on the road, with or without bodywork, having at leastfour wheels and a maximum design speed exceeding 25 km/h, with theexception of vehicles which run on rails, agricultural or forestry tractorsand machinery and public works vehicles.
Article 2
No Member State may refuse to grant EEC type-approval or national
type-approval of a vehicle on grounds relating to their towing-devices,if these satisfy the requirements set out in the Annex.
Article 3
No Member State may refuse registration or prohibit the sale, entry into
service or use of a vehicle on grounds relating to their towing-devices ifthese satisfy the requirements set out in the Annex to this Directive.
Article 4
Any amendments necessary to adjust the requirements of this Annex to
take account of technical progress shall be adopted in accordance withthe procedure laid down in Article 13 of Council Directive 70/156/EEC.
(1) OJ No C 76, 7. 4. 1975, p. 37.
(2) OJ No C 248, 29. 10. 1975, p. 24.
(3) OJ No L 42, 23. 2. 1970, p. 1.
1977L0389 — EN — 23.05.1977 — 000.001 — 3
▼B
Article 5
1. Member States shall put into force the provisions necessary to
comply with this Directive within 18 months of its notification and shallimmediately inform the Commission thereof.
2. Member States shall ensure that the texts of legislative provisions
which they adopt in the area governed by this Directive are communi-cated to the Commission.
Article 6
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.
1977L0389 — EN — 23.05.1977 — 000.001 — 4
▼B
ANNEX
TOWING-DEVICES
1.Number
1.1. All motor vehicles must have a special towing-device fitted at the front, to
which a connecting part, such as a towing-bar or tow-rope, may be fitted.
1.2. Vehicles in category M1— as defined in Annex I to Directive 70/156/EEC
— except for those vehicles unsuitable for towing loads, must also be fittedwith a towing-device at the rear.
2.Stability
2.1. Each special towing-device fitted to the vehicle must be able to withstand
►
C1a tractive and compressive static force ◄of at least half the author-
ized total weight of the vehicle, only without the towed load to which it isfitted.