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"BCOUNCIL DIRECTIVE
of 4 March 1974
on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the maximum design speed of and
load platforms for wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors
(74/152/EEC)
(OJ L 84, 28.3.1974, p. 33)
Amended by:
Official Journal
No page date
"M1 Council Directive 82/890/EEC of 17 December 1982 L 378 45 31.12.1982
"M2 Commission Directive 88/412/EEC of 22 June 1988 L 200 31 26.7.1988
"M3 Directive 97/54/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council
of 23 September 1997L 277 24 10.10.1997
Corrected by:
"C1 Corrigendum, OJ L 226, 18.8.1976, p. 16 (74/152/EEC)1974L0152 — EN — 30.10.1997 — 003.001 — 1
COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
of 4 March 1974
on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to
the maximum design speed of and load platforms for wheeled
agricultural or forestry tractors
(74/152/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 with which tractors must comply
pursuant to national laws relate, inter alia, to the maximum design speed
and load platforms;
Whereas these requirements differ from one Member State to another;
whereas it is therefore necessary that all Member States adopt the same
requirements either in addition to or in place of their existing rules in
order, in particular, to allow the EEC type-approval procedure which was
the subject of the Council Directive of 4 March 1974 (3), on the
approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the
type-approval of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors to be applied
in respect of each type of tractor,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:
Article 1
1. ‘Agricultural or forestry tractor’ means any motor vehicle, fitted
with wheels or "C1endless tracks 3and having at least two axles,
the main function of which lies in its tractive power and which is
specially designed to tow, push, carry or power certain tools, machinery
or trailers intended for agricultural or forestry use. It may be equipped to
carry a load and passengers.
2. This Directive shall apply only to tractors defined in paragraph 1
which are equipped with pneumatic tyres and have at least two axles and
a maximum design speed of between 6 and "M340 km/h 3.
Article 2
No Member State may refuse to grant EEC type-approval or national
type-approval of a tractor on grounds relating to the maximum design
speed or the load platforms if these satisfy the requirements set out in the
Annex.
Article 3
No Member State may refuse the registration or prohibit the sale, entry
into service, or use of tractors on grounds relating to the maximum
design speed or the load platforms if these satisfy the requirements set
out in the Annex.!B
(1) OJ No 28, 17. 2. 1967, p. 462/67.
(2) OJ No 42, 7. 3. 1967, p. 620/67.
(3) See p. 10 of this Official Journal.!M1
!B1974L0152 — EN — 30.10.1997 — 003.001 — 2
Article 4
1. No Member State may prohibit the fitting of load platforms or
require that tractors must be fitted with one or more such platforms.
2. No Member State may prohibit the carriage on such platforms of
products which they permit to be carried on trailers used for agriculture
or forestry purposes; within the limits laid down by the manufacturer, a
maximum load of at least 80 % of the weight of the tractor in running
order is authorized.
Article 5
The amendments necessary for adopting to technical progress the
requirements of the Annex shall be adopted in accordance with the
procedure laid down in Article 13 of the Council Directive on the
type-approval of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors.
Article 6
1. Member States shall put into force the provisions necessary in order
to comply with this Directive within eighteen months of its notification
and shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.
2. Member States shall ensure that the texts of the main provisions of
national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive are
communicated to the Commission.
Article 7
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.!B1974L0152 — EN — 30.10.1997 — 003.001 — 3
ANNEX
1. MAXIMUM DESIGN SPEED
1.1. For the type-approval tests, the average speed shall be measured on a
straight track, which the tractor shall traverse in both directions from a
flying start. The soil of the track shall be stabilized; the track shall be flat
and at least 100 metres long; however it may include slopes of not morethan 1.5% .
1.2. During the test, the tractor shall be unladen and in running order without
ballast weights or special equipment and the tyre pressures shall be thosespecified for road use.
1.3. During the test the tractor shall be fitted with new pneumatic tyres having
the greatest rolling radius intended by the manufacturer for the tractor
1.4. The gear ratio used during the test shall be that producing the maximum
vehicle speed and the throttle shall be fully open.
1.5. In order to take account of various unavoidable errors due, in particular, to
the measuring technique and to the increase in running speed of the engine
with a partial load, a result 10 % higher than the "
M340 km/h 3value
shall be acceptable for the type-approval test.
1.6. So that the authorities competent for the type-approval of tractors may
calculate their maximum theoretical speed, the manufacturer shall specify
as a guide the gear ratio, the actual foward movement of the powered
wheels corresponding to one complete revolution, and the rpm atmaximum power output with the throttle fully open and the speedgovernor, if fitted, adjusted as laid down by the manufacturer.
2. LOAD PLATFORMS
2.1. The centre of gravity of the platform shall be situated between the axles.
2.2. The dimensions of the platform shall be such that:
— the length does not exceed 1.4times the front or rear track of the
tractor, whichever is the larger;
— the width does not exceed the maximum overall width of the tractor
without equipment.
2.3. The platform shall be laid out symmetrically in relation to the longitudinal
median plane of the tractor.
2.4. The height of the load platform above the ground shall be not more than
150 cm.
2.5. The type of platform and the way it is fitted shall be such that, with a
normal load, the driver’ s field of vision remains adequate and the various
compulsory lighting and lightsignalling devices may continue to fulfil
their proper function.
2.6. The load platform shall be detachable; it shall be attached to the tractor in
such a way as to avoid any risk of accidental detachment.!
B
!M2
!B
!M1
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