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"BCOUNCIL DIRECTIVE
of 25 June 1974
on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to rear-view mirrors for wheeled
agricultural of forestry tractors
(74/346/EEC)
(OJ L 191, 15.7.1974, p. 1)
Amended by:
Official Journal
No page date
"M1 Council Directive 82/890/EEC of 17 December 1982 L 378 45 31.12.1982
"M2 Directive 97/54/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council
of 23 September 1997L 277 24 10.10.1997
"M3 Commission Directive 98/40/EC of 8 June 1998 L 171 28 17.6.1998
Corrected by:
"C1 Corrigendum, OJ L 226, 18.8.1976, p. 16 (74/346/EEC)1974L0346 — EN — 07.07.1998 — 003.001 — 1
COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
of 25 June 1974
on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to
rear-view mirrors for wheeled agricultural of forestry tractors
(74/346/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 rear-view mirrors;
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 Council Directive No 74/150/EEC (3) of 4 March 1974 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 I
which are equipped with pneumatic tyres and have at least two axles and
a maximum design speed of between 6 and "M2 40 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 rear-view mirrors 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 rear-view mirrors 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) OJ No L 84, 28. 3. 1974, p. 10.!M1
!B1974L0346 — EN — 07.07.1998 — 003.001 — 2
Article 4
The amendments necessary for adapting to technical progress the
requirements of the Annex shall be adopted in accordance with the
procedure laid down in Article 13 of Council Directive No 74/150/EEC.
Article 5
1. Member States shall put into force the provisions necessary in order
to comply with this Directive within 18 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 6
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.!B1974L0346 — EN — 07.07.1998 — 003.001 — 3
ANNEX
1. DEFINITIONS
1.1. ‘Rear-view mirror’ means any device intended to give, within the field of
vision geometrically defined in item 2.5 below, a clear view to the rearwhich, within reasonable limits, is not blocked by component parts of thetractor or by the occupants of the tractor itself. "
M3The additional
mirrors and rear-view mirrors designed in order to monitor the implements
while working in the fields are not necessarily open to componenttype-approval but must be located in accordance with the settingrequirements contained in Items 2.3.3 to 2.3.5. 3
1.2. ‘Interior rear-view mirror’ means a device as defined in item 1.1 which is
fitted inside the cab or frame of a tractor.
1.3. ‘Exterior rear-view mirror’ means a device as defined in item 1.1 which is
mounted on any part of the external surface of a tractor.
1.4. ‘Class of rear-view mirror’ means all rear-view mirrors having one or
more common characteristics or functions. Interior rear-view mirrors are
grouped in class I, exterior rear-view mirrors in class II.
2. REQUIREMENTS FOR FITTING
2.1. General
2.1.1. Tractors may be fitted with rear-view mirrors of classes I and II only
bearing the EEC type-approval mark laid down in Council Directive No71/127/EEC (
1) of 1 March 1971 on the approximation of the laws of the
Member States relating to the rear-view mirrors of motor vehicles, as
amended by the Act of Accession (2).
2.1.2. Rear-view mirrors must be fixed in such a way that they remain steady
under normal driving conditions.
2.2. Number
All tractors shall be equipped with at least one exterior rear-view mirror
fitted to the left side of the tractor in Member States in which traffic drives
on the right and to the right side of the tractor in Member States in which
traffic drives on the left.
2.3. Position
2.3.1. The exterior rear-view mirror must be so placed that the driver, when
sitting on the driving seat in a normal driving position, has a clear view ofthat part of the road defined in item 2.5.
2.3.2. The exterior rear-view mirror must be visible through the portion of the
windscreen that is swept by the windscreen wiper or through the side
windows if the tractor is fitted with them.
2.3.3. The rear-view mirror must not protrude beyond the external bodywork of
the tractor or the tractor-trailer combination substantially more than is
necessary to obtain the fields of vision laid down in item 2.5.
2.3.4. Where the bottom edge of an exterior rear-view mirror is less than 2 m
above the ground when the tractor is laden, this rear-view mirror must notproject more than 0.20m beyond the overall width of the tractor or
tractor-trailer combination measured without rear-view mirrors.
2.3.5. Subject to the requirements of items 2.3.3 and 2.3.4, rear-view mirrors
may project beyond the tractor’s permissible maximum width.
2.4. Adjustment
2.4.1. Any interior rear-view mirror must be adjustable by the driver from his
driving position.
2.4.2."
M3The driver must be able to adjust the exterior rear-view mirror
without leaving the driving position. 3 The mirror may, however, be
locked into position from the outside.!B
(1) OJ No L 68, 22. 3. 1971, p. 1.
(2) OJ No L 73, 27. 3. 1972, p. 14.1974L0346 — EN — 07.07.1998 — 003.001 — 4
2.4.3. The requirements of item 2.4.2 do not apply to exterior rear-view mirrors
which, after being displaced, are returned automatically to their original
position or can be restored to their original position without the use of
tools.
2.5. Fields of vision
2.5.1. Member States in which traffic drives on the right
The field of vision of the left hand exterior rear-view mirror must be such
that the driver can see to the rear at least that level part of the road as far as
the horizon, which is to the left of the plane parallel to the vertical
longitudinal median plane and which passes through the leftmost point ofthe overall width of the tractor or tractor-trailer combination.
2.5.2. Member States in which traffic drives on the left
The field of vision of the right hand exterior rear-view mirror must be such
that the driver can see to the rear at least that level part of the road, as far as
the horizon, which is to the right of the plane parallel to the verticallongitudinal median plane and which passes through the rightmost point ofthe overall width of the tractor or tractor-trailer combination.!
B1974L0346 — EN — 07.07.1998 — 003.001 — 5