1974L0346 — EN — 21.12.1982 — 001.001 — 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 25June 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
Nopage date
►M1Council Directive 82/890/EEC of 17 December 1982 L 378 45 31.12.1982
Corrected by:
►C1Corrigendum, OJ L 226, 18.8.1976, p. 16 (74/346)
1974L0346 — EN — 21.12.1982 — 001.001 — 2
▼B
COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
of 25June 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 tonatio nal laws relate, inter alia, torear-view mirro rs;
Whereas these 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 which wasthe 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 thetype-approval of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors to be appliedin 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 ◄and having at least twoaxles,
the main function of which lies in its tractive power and which isspecially designed to tow, push, carry or power certain tools, machineryor trailers intended for agricultural or forestry use. It may be equippedtocarry a lo ad and passengers.
▼
M1
2. This Directive shall apply only to tractors defined in paragraph Iwhich are equipped with pneumatic tyres and have at least twoaxlesand a maximum design speed of between 6 and 30 km/h.
▼
B
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 ifthese 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 ifthese satisfy the requirements set out in the Annex.
(1) OJ No28, 17. 2. 1967, p. 462/67.
(2) OJ No42, 7. 3. 1967, p. 620/67.
(3) OJ NoL 84, 28. 3. 1974, p. 10.
1974L0346 — EN — 21.12.1982 — 001.001 — 3
▼B
Article 4
The amendments necessary for adapting to technical progress the
requirements of the Annex shall be adopted in accordance with theprocedure 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 notificationand 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 arecommunicated to the Commission.
Article 6
This Directive is addressed tothe Member States.
1974L0346 — EN — 21.12.1982 — 001.001 — 4
▼B
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.
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 aregrouped 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, asamended 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 trafficdrives on the right and to the right side of the tractor in Member States inwhich 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 sidewindows 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 isnecessary 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 ·20 m 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. The driver must be able to adjust the exterior rear-view mirror from within
the tractor. The mirror may, however, be locked into position from theoutside.
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
(1) OJ NoL 68, 22. 3. 1971, p. 1.
(2) OJ NoL 73, 27. 3. 1972, p. 14.
1974L0346 — EN — 21.12.1982 — 001.001 — 5
▼B
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 faras the horizon, which is to the left of the plane parallel to the verticallongitudinal 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 thevertical longitudinal median plane and which passes through the rightmostpoint of the overall width of the tractor or tractor-trailer combination.