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COMMISSION OPTHEEUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
COM(80)84 final
Brussels,29February1980
*»νΐ
- ->
Proposalfort?a :
COUNCILDIRECTIVE,/
amendingCouncilDirective77/541/EEContheapproximation ofthe
lawsoftheMemberStatesrelatingtosafetybeltsandrestraint
systemsofmotorvehicles\-"*
Y'
:/
Proposalfora
COUNCILDIRECTIVE
amendingCouncilDirective 76/115/EEContheapproximation ofthe
lawsoftheMemberStatesrelatingtoanchoragesformotor-vehicle
safetybelts
Proposalfora
COUNCILDIRECTIVE
amendingCouncilDirective 74/408/EEContheapproximation ofthe
lawsoftheMemberStatesrelatingtotheinteriorfittingsofmotor
vehicles(strengthofseatsandoftheiranchorages )
(submittedtotheCouncilbytheCommission )
COM(80)84 final

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
1.GENERALR3.ÎARKS
ThisCommissionproposalconcernstheamendmentofthefollowing
Directives :
–CouncilDirective77/541/EEG~of28June1977onthe
approximation ofthelawsoftheMemberStatesrelatingto
safetybeltsandrestraintsystemsofmotorvehicles;
–CouncilDirective76/115/2ECDecember1975on
approximation ofthelawsoftheMemberStatesrelatingto
anchoragesformotor-vehicle safetybelts;
–CouncilDirective74/408/EECof22July1974onthe
approximation ofthelawsoftheMemberStatesrelatingto
theinteriorfittingsofmotorvehicles(strengthofseats
andoftheiranchorages). ^
1.1Directive –Safetybeltsandrestraintsystems
ThisDirectivestipulatesrequirements concerningthedesign,
performance andtestingofsafetybeltsandrestraintsystems
andrequirements concerningthefittingofthesebeltsand
systemstomotorvehicles.Inthecaseofthelatter
requirements ,however,thescopedefinedinArticle9of"the
DirectiveislimitedexclusivelytovehiclesofcategoryM^
(vehiclesusedforthecarriageofpassengersand'comprising
nomorethan9seats,includingthedriver'sseat).
InMarch1978»theUnitedKingdominformedtheotherMemberStates
andtheCommissionofitsintentiontomakesafetybelts
compulsoryinthefrontseatsofvehiclesofcategoryMg
(vehiclesusedforthecarriageofpassengers ,comprisingmore
than9seatsandhavingamaximumweightnotexceeding5"0and­
/
(vehiclesusedforthecarriageofgoodsandhavingamaximum
weightnotexceeding3.5t).-InMay1979»Denmarkalso
informedtheCommissionthatitintendedtomakethefittingof

safety belts compulsory incategory vehicles .Moreover ,the
discussions held bytherelevant Commission departments .since
thebeginning of197?with .theexperts oftheMember States m
connection with work ontheremoval oftechnical barriers to
trade in'industrial products have revealed ageneral interest in
theextension ofthescope ofthis Directive tocover all
categories ofmotor vehicle .
ι
Themajority oftheexperts consulted were convinced that ,in
general ,thefront-seat passengers ofcommercial vehicles ,buses
ancicoaches would enjoy greater protection intheevent ofan
accident ifthey wore asuitable safety belt .Analyses
conducted inSweden inparticular ,andalso intheUnited Kingdom
andAustralia ,inrespect ofactual accidents involving
commercial vehicles indicate that inthegreat majority ofcases
asafety belt would have reduced theconsequences ofthe
accident forthedriver ofthevehicle concerned .
Although certain manufacturers have been fitting safety belts
totheir lorries voluntarily forsome time ,experience inthis
field still appears tobeinsufficient forittobelikely that
these belts will befitted toallcommercial vehicles .For
this reason ,itisproposed tolimit theobligation tofit
safety belts tovehicles incategories M^, andMg,provided
thelast-mentioned arederived from avehicle inthefirst two
categories ,i.e. categories ofvehicle inwhich thesame types
ofbelt canbeused .Asregards theother vehicle categories ,
itisproposed tooffer manufacturers thechance toobtain EEC
type approval inrespect ofvehicles towhich safety beits are
fitted ;inview ofthecompetitive situation prevailing inthis
sector ,this would certainly promote thefitting ofsafety belts
tosuch vehicles . 1
Tothis enditistherefore proposed toamend Article 9and
certain items ofthesection oninstallation requirements of
Annex XtotheDirective# Clearly ,these 'amendments
donotsolve theproblem oftheappropriate design of

safetybeltsandrestraintsystemst©eefittedinheavyeommeroial
vehicles.TherelevantCommissiondepartmentisnowconducting
amoredetailedexaminationofthisessentialquestioninclose
collaboration withnationalexpertsandexpertsoftheindustry
concerned.Thiswillgiverisetoamendmentstothetechnical
annexestotheDirectiveandthesewillbeadoptedsubsequently
bytheCommissioninaccordancewiththeprocedurelaiddown
foradaptationtotechnicalprogress(Article13of
Directive70/156/EEContheEECtypeapprovalonmotorvehicles).
FollowingrequestsmadebyGovernmentexperts,theCommission
departments undertooktoensurethattheamendmentstothe
technicalannexes,whichwillbeadoptedundertheprocedure
governingadaptationtotechnicalprogress,wouldbeimplemented
simultaneously withthemeasurescontainedinthisproposal.
Directive76^115^EEC-Anchoragesforsafetybelts *'
AnnexItothisDirectivestipulatesrequirements concerningthe
positioning ,characteristics andtestingofsafety-beltrestraints.
AsinthecaseoftheDirectivereferredtointheprecedingitem,
however,thescopeofthisDirectiveislimitedtovehiclesof
categoryJL. .„
I
Themeasuresreferredtointheprecedingitemcanclearlyonly,
beimplementedinsofarasallcategoriesofvehiclearefitted
withsafety-beltanchoragesfortheseatsinquestion.Itis
thereforeproposedtoextendthescopeoftheDirectivetocover
vehiclesotherthanthoseofcategoryM^,sothatinfuturethey-
incorporateanchoragesforcertaintypesofsafetybelt,at
leastinthecaseoffrontseatsandanyseatwhichhasnoother
seatinfrontofit.
ExtensionofthescopeoftheDirectivewillmakeit
necessarytoamendArticle2andcertainitems'inAnnexI
concerningtheminimumnumberofanchoragestobefitted.
Inaddition,anumberof.thetechnicalrequirements
stipulatedintheannexestotheDirective,particularly

/
-4-
inrespect ofthepositioning andtesting ofanchorages ,will
have to "beadapted totake account ofthenewcategories of
vehicle which will "becovered "by .theDirective infuture .In
this connection ,theCommission departments intend toadopt
theprocedure employed inrespect oftheDirective relating to
safety belts .They propose toprepare aDirective governing
theamendment oftechnical annexes ,inclose collaboration with
theexperts oftheMember States andthemotor vehicle industry ;
theCommission thinks itwill bepossible toarrange forthe
adoption ofthis Directive bymeans oftheprocedure governing
adaptation totechnical progress .Inthis case also ,the
Member States must implement themeasures arising from this
Commission Directive simultaneously with themeasures which
arecovered bythis proposal foraCouncil Directive .
Directive 74/408^EIEC –Strength ofseats and_their_anchorages
Thescope ofthis Directive ,asdefined inArticle 1,prohibits
EECtype approval ofavehicle ongrounds relating tothe
strength ofseats andtheir anchorages iftheseats inquestion
incorporate built-in seat-belt anchorages .For some time ,
European motor vehicle manufacturers have increasingly favoured
attachment ofanchorages totheseat itself ,atleast inthe
case oflower anchorages .This anchorage position improves .the
fitofthebelt forthewearer irrespective ofhis size and
position inthecar ,andensures that thesafety belt always
adopts thebest position toprotect thewearer inthe event of
anaccident ;italso improves thecomfort ofsafety belts ,and
this should make them more acceptable toagreater number of
motorists . - ,
Thelocation oftheanchorages ofsafety belts onseats can
therefore beexpected tohave adirect ,favourable influence
onthesafety ofmotor vehicle passengers .Consequently ,it
seems advisable toencourage manufacturers tofitsafety belt
anchorages inthis waybygiving them theopportunity to
obtain EECtype approval forvehicles which aresoequipped .
Forthis purpose ,itwill benecessary toamend Article 1

ofthia Directive .Theexperts oftheMember States whohave
been consulted onthis matter have unanimously expressed their
agreement tosuch anamendment .
COMMENTS ONTHE PROPOSALS FOR DIRECTIVES
These three proposals forDirectives aredesigned toextend the
scope oftheCommunity requirements laid down intheoriginal
Directives .Since ,ineach case ,the scope isdefined bythe
legally operative part oftheDirective ,itcannot beamended
bytheprocedure involving theCommittee onAdaptation to
Technical Progress .These proposals must therefore besubmitted
tothe Council inaccordance with theprovisions ofArticle 100
oftheTreaty .Consequently ,theproposals arelimited tothe
amendment oftheArticle inquestion andtoafew essential
amendments inrespect ofthetechnical annexes to
Directives 77/541/EECand76/H5/EEC.
Other amendments tothe technical annexes which have become
necessary inorder toadapt therequirements ofthese annexes
tocover thenew categories ofvehicle tobebrought within the
scope oftheDirectives ,will subsequently undergo adaptation
totechnical progress inaccordance with theprocedure laid down
inArticle 13ofDirective 70/l56/EEConthetype approval of
motor vehicles .
Therequirement ofthethree proposed Directives canbeoutlined
asfollows :
Article 1relates totheextension ofthe scope ofthese Directives
Thescope ofDirectives 77/541/EECand76/II5/EECwill infuture
cover allmotor vehicles incategories M(vehicles intended for
thecarriage ofpersons )andN(vehicles intended forthecarriage
ofgoods ). Thescope ofDirective 74/408/EECwill infuture
cover allmotor vehicle Beats with theexception oftip-up seats ,
and seats which do'not face forward . ■

-6-
Inaddition,thetechnicalrequirements ofthefirsttwoDirectives ,
concerningthefittingofcertaintypesofsafetybeltandthe
minimumnumberofanchoragestobeprovided,willbeadaptedto
coverthecategoriesofvehiclerecentlybroughtwithinthescope
oftheDirective .
Article2setsatimelimitwithinwhichMemberStatesmust
implementtherequirements inordertocomplywiththeDirective
inquestion.AsregardstheDirectives amending
Directives77/541/EECand76/115/SEC,theCommissionintendsto
alterthistimelimitwherenecessaryinthelightofthedate
ofimplementation fixedfortheadaptationtotechnicalprogress
oftherequirements containedintheannexestotheseDirectives
inordertoensurethesimultaneous implementation ofall
measuresconnectedwiththeiramendment.
Article3statesthattheproposedDirectivesareaddressedto
theMemberStates.
3.CONSULTATION OFTHEEUROPEAITPARLIAMENT ANDTHEECONOMICMP
SOCIALCOMMITTEE
Inaccordancewiththerequirements ofthesecondparagraphof
Article100,theopinionofthesetwobodiesmustbeobtained.

PROPOSAL FORA
VCOUNCILDIRECTIVE AMENDING
COUNCILDIRECTIVE77/541/EEC
ONTHEAPPROXIMATION OPTHELAWSOPTHEMEMBERSTATES
RELATING TOSAFETYBELTSANDRESTRAINT SYSTEMSOP
.' MOTORVEHICLES' -

TH3 COUNCIL OFTHE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ,
Having regard totheTreaty ,establishing theEuropean Economic Community ,
and inparticular Article 100thereof ,
Having regard totheproposal oftheCommission ,
Having regard totheopinion oftheEuropean Parliament fl),
Having regard totheopinion oftheEconomic andSocial Committee (2),
- \ -
Whereas Council Directive 77/541/EEC also lays down inAnnex Irequirements
concerning thefitting ofsafety "belts andrestraint systems tovehicles
ofcategory asdefined inAnnex ItoCouncil Directive 70/156/EECof
6February 1970 ontheapproximation ofthelaws oftheMember States rela­
ting tothetype approval ofmotor vehicles andtheir trailers(4);
Whereas itisnow advisable ,intheinterest ofroad safety ,topermit and
encourage the fitting ofsafety belts andrestraint systems complying with
therequirements ofDirective 77/541/EECtoallvehicles ofcategories
»MandNbyextending thescope ofthat Directive ;whereas such anexten­
sion hasbeen made possible bythetechnical -progress inmotor vehicle
construction ;
.
Whereas it/isadvisable forthis purpose ,toamend ■Directive 77/541/EEC,(2),
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE :
(1)O.J. NoL
(2)O.J. NoL
(3^O.J.NoL220of29.8.1977 ,p.95
(4)O.J. NoL42 ^of23.2.1970 ,p.l.

-2-
Article 1 v
Directive 77/541/EECisamendedasfollows:
1.Article9isamendedtoreadasfollows:
Article9 . ,
M
ForthepurposesofthisDirective/vehiclemeansanymotorvehicleof
categories MandNasdefinedinAnnexItoDirective70/156/EECintended
foruseontheroad,havingatleastfourwheelsandamaximumdesign
speedexceeding25km/lv."
2.AnnexIisamendedasfollows:
-Item3.1.shallreadasfollows:
3.1Vehicleequipment
AnyvehiclecoveredbyArticle9beingincategories ororM2
derivativesthereof,shal*lbeequippedwithsafetybeltsorrestraint
systemswhichsatisfytherequirements ofthis -
Directiveandhavethefollowingarrangements (withwhichneither
/non-lockingretractors (1.8.1)normanuallyunlockingretractors (1.8.2)
canbeused). -
ForallothercategoriesofvehiclecoveredbyArticle9,ifandwhere
providedwithsafetybeltsorrestraintsystems,theseshallcomplywith
therequirements ofthisDirectiveandhavethefollowingarrangements
asapplicable :"
-Item3.1.3shallreadasfollows:
\. .. .. .1'3.1.3atrearseatingpositionsincategory andforallotherseats
immediatelyinfrontofwhichthereareno-^therseatsin'cate­
goriesotherthanM^,.lap-beltsorthree-point "belts,whether
ornotfittedwithretractors.
•••/•••

-3-
Forpurposesofthisrequirement aseatisconsideredtobeimmediately in
frontofanyotherseatifthehiphestpointdeterminedwithin
itsverticalcentreplaneoftheseat-backofthefirstmentioned
seatcan,accordingtothemethoddescribedinAnnexIIofDirec­
tive74/60/SHCcomeintocontactwiththetestapparatus
setupontheseatforwhichthecheckisbeinfrcarriedout.The
lateralmovementofthisapparatusis.however,limitedto30°on
eithersideofthelongitudinal verticalplaneofthevehiclewhich
passesthroughthe"H"pointoftheseatundercheck.
Article2
MemberStatesshallbringintoforcetheprovisionsnecessaryinorderto
complywiththisDirectivewithin18monthsofitsnotification ,andshall
forthwith informtheCommissionthereof.
Article3
ThisDirectiveisaddressedtotheMemberStates.
DoneatBrussels FortheCouncil

PROPOSAL FORA
COUNCILDIRECTIVE AMENDING
-COUNCILDIRECTIVE76/115/^-
ONTHEAPPROXIMATION OPTEELAWSOPTHEMEMBERSTATES
RELATING TOANCHORAGES FORMOTOR-VEHICLE SAFETYBELTS

THECOUNCILOPTHEEUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ,
Havingregardto*fcheTreaty,establishing theEuropeanEconomicCommunity ,
and.inparticularArticle100thereof ,
HavingregardtotheproposaloftheCommission ,
HavingregardtotheopinionoftheEuropeanParliament (l),
HavingregardtotheopinionoftheEconomicandSocialCommittee(2),
WhereasCouncilDirective76/115/EECalsolaysdowninAnnexIrequirements
concerningtheminimumnumbero~fbeltanchoragestobeprovidedforvehicles
ofcategoryasdefinedinAnnexItoCouncilDirective70/156/EECof
6February1970ontheapproximation ofthelawsoftheMemberStatesrela­
tingtothetypeapprovalofmotorvehiclesand.theirtrailers(4);
Whereasitisnowadvisable ,intheinterestofroadsafety,topermitand
encouragethefittingofsafety.beltsandrestraintsystemscomplyingwith
therequirementsofDirective77/541/EEC(5)toallvehiclesofcategories
MandN;whereasthisnecessitates theobligation ,withintheframework
oftheEECtypeapprovalformotorvehicles,toprovideforanchoragesfor
allthesecategoriesofvehicles;whereasforthispurposethescopeof
Directive76/115/EECmustbeextendedinordertoenablethemanufacturers
toinstallintosuchvehiclesanchorageswhichcomplywiththerequirements
ofthatDirective ,andwhereassuchanextensionhasbeenmadepossibleby
thetechnicalprogressinmotorvehicleconstruction ;
Whereasitisadvisableforthispurpose,toamendDirective76/115/EEC,
HASADOPTEDTHISDIRECTIVE :
(1)O.J.NoL
f2)O.J.NoL
(3)O.J.NoL24of30.01.1976,p.6Ù)O.J.NoL42of23.02.1970,p.1
(5)O.J.NoL220of29.O8.i977,P.95.

Article 1
Directive 76/II5/EECisamended asfollows :
Ν
1.Article 2isamended toread asfollows :
"Article 2
For thepurposes ofthis Directive ,"vehicle "means anymotor vehicle
ofcategories MandNasdefined inAnnex ItoDirective 70/156/EEC
intended foruse ontheroad ,having atleast four wheels and amaxi­
mumdesign speed exceeding 25km/h."
2.Annex Iisamended asfollows :
■/ •
Item 4*3*2 .shall read asfollows :
"4*3»2 .For rear outboard seats ofvehicles incategory there shall
betwolower "belt anchorages andoneupper "belt anchorage ,but
when noupper belt anchorages canbeinstalled such asinsome
convertible cars orcars with aremovable roof ,two lower belt
anchorages shall beacceptable *"
Item 4»3«3 * •shall read asfollows :
"4»3«3 .Forallother seats incategory M^,andforallother seats imme­
diately infront ofwhich there arenoother seats incategories
other thanM^,there shall beaminimum ,oftwolower belt ancho­
rages .This prescription does not apply tofolding seats .
Forpurposes ofthis requirement aseat isconsidered tobeimmediately
front ofanyother seat ifthehighest point determined within
itsvertical centre plane ofthe seat-back ofthe first mentio­
ned seat can ,according tothemethod described inAnnex IIof
Directive 74/60/EEC,come into contact with thetest appa­
ratus setuponthe seat forwhich thecheck isbeing carried out .
Thelateral movement ofthis apparatus is ,however ,limited to
30°oneither side ofthelongitudinal vertical plane ofthe
vehicle which passes through the "H"point ofthe seat under
check .

-3-
After item 4.3.4 .anew item A.3.5.asfellows shal'l beadded ?
"4*3*5 .For allother seats notcovered "byitems 4*3.1 *»4*3.1.1 .or
4.3*3 *invehicles ofcategories other than there isno
requirement for "belt anchorages .However ,ifthevehicle is
fitted with "belt anchorages ,these anchorages shall satisfy
theprovisions ofthepresent Directive ."
Article 2
Member States shall bring into force theprovisions necessary inorder to
comply with this Directive within 18months ofitsnotification and
shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof .–
Article 3
This Directive isaddressed tothe Member States .
Done atBrussels For the Council

.PROPOSAL FORA
COUNCILDIRECTIVE AMENDING
COUNCILDIRECTIVE74/4O8/EEC.1
ONTHEAPPROXIMATION OPTHELAWSOPTHEMEMBERSTATES
RELATING TOTHEINTERIORFITTINGS OFMOTORVEHICLES\
(STRENGTHOFSEATSANDOFTHEIRANCHORAGES)

THECOUNCILOFTHEEUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ,
HavingregardtotheTreaty,establishing theEuropeanEconomicCommunity,
andinparticularArticle100thereof,
HavingregardtotheproposaloftheCommission,
HavingregardtotheopinionoftheEuropeanParliament (1),
HavingregardtotheOpinionoftheEconomicandSocialCommittee (2),
WhereasCounciIDirective74/408/EECdoesnot
permitEECtypeapprovalofavehicleconcerning thestrengthoftheseats
andoftheiranchoragesiftheseseatshavebuilt-insafetybeltanchorages
Whereasitisnowadvisable,intheinterestofroadsafety,topermit
andencouragethefittingofsafetybeltscomplyingwiththerequirements
ofDirective 77/541/EEC(4)tovehicleshavingoneormoreanchoragesfor
suchbeltsontheseatinordertoimprovecomfortandconvenience inuse
forawiderrangeofadultcaroccupants andthusincreasetherateofbelt
wearing;
WhereasitisadvisableforthispurposetoamendDirective
74/408/EEC;whereassuchanamendment
hasbeenmadepossiblebythetechnicalprogressinmotorvehicle
construction ,
HASADOPTEDTHISDIRECTIVE :
./.
<1)O.J.NoL
(2)O.J.NoL
(3)O.J.NoL221of12.8.1974,p.1.
(4)O.J»NoL220of29.8.1977,P.95.

-2-
Article 1
Directive 74/4O8/EECisamended asfollows :
1.Article 1(2),isamended toread asfollows :
"2.This Directive does not apply tofolding seats ortoside-facing
orrearward-facing seats ,"
2. Annex Iisamended asfollows :
Item 2.7 *shall read : -
"2.7."Folding seat "means an^auxiliary seat intended foroccasional
use andwhich isnormally folded out oftheway;"
Article 2
Member States shall bring into force theprovisions necessary inorder to
comply with this Directive within 6months ofitsnotification ,andshall
forthwith inform theCommission thereof . -
Article 3
This Directive isaddressed tothe Member States .
Done atBrussels For the Council