No C 15/4 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 20.1.  77 
II 
(Preparatory  Acts) 
COMMISSION 
Proposal  for a Council  Directive  on the approximation  of the laws  of the Member  States 
relating  to the weights  and  dimensions  of certain  motor  vehicles 
(Submitted  by the Commission  to the Council  on 31 December  1976) 
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, 
Having  regard  to the opinion  of the  Economic  and 
Social  Committee, 
Whereas  the  technical  requirements  which  motor 
vehicles  must  satisfy  pursuant  to national  laws  relate, 
inter  alia,  to their  weights  and  dimensions; 
Whereas  those  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  70/156/EEC  of 6 February  1970  on 
the approximation  of the laws  of the Member  States 
relating  to the  type-approval  of motor  vehicles  and 
their  trailers  (1), to be applied  in respect  of each  type 
of vehicle; 
Whereas  the approximation  of national  laws  relating 
to motor  vehicles  involves  the mutual  recognition  of 
(») OJ No L 42, 23. 2. 1970,  p. 1. Member  States  of the inspections  carried  out by each 
of them  on the basis  of common  provisions;  whereas, 
for it to operate  effectively,  such  a system  calls  for 
the implementation  of these  requirements  by all 
Member  States  with  effect  from  the same  date; 
Whereas  the  provisions  of this  Directive,  which  is 
limited  to motor  vehicles  of category  Mi,  are 
adopted  in anticipation  of the implementation  of the 
provisions  relating  to weights  and  dimensions  of all 
categories  of motor  vehicles, 
HAS  ADOPTED  THIS  DIRECTIVE: 
Article  1 
For the  purposes  of this  Directive,  'vehicle'  means 
any motor  vehicle  in category  Mi (defined  in Annex  I 
of Directive  70/156/EEC)  designed  for  use  on the 
road,  having  at least  four  wheels,  a maximum  design 
speed  exceeding  25  km/h,  and  a permissible 
maximum  laden  weight  of not  more  than  3 500 kg 
with  the  exception  of vehicles  which  run  on rails, 
agricultural  or forestry  tractors  and  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 its weights  and  dimensions,  if 
they satisfy  the  requirements  set  out  in Annex  I 
hereto. 
20.1.  77 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 15/5 
Article  3 
No Member  State  may  refuse  to register  or may 
prohibit  the sale,  entry  into  service  or use of a vehicle 
on grounds  relating  to its weights  and  dimensions,  if 
they satisfy  the requirements  set out  in the Annex  I 
hereto. 
Article  4 
Any amendments  necessary  to adapt  the requirements 
of the Annexes  to take  account  of technical  progress 
shall  be adopted  in accordance  with  the  procedure 
laid down  in Article  13 of Directive  70/156/EEC. 
Article  5 
1. Member  States  shall  adopt  and  publish  the 
provisions  necessary  to comply  with  this  Directive  by 1 June  1978  and  shall  forthwith  inform  the 
Commission  thereof. 
They  shall  implement  these  provisions  with  effect 
from  1 January  1979. 
2. After  notification  of this  Directive,  Member 
States  shall  take  steps  to inform  the Commission,  in 
sufficient  time  for it to submit  its comments,  of any 
draft  laws,  regulations  or administrative  provisions 
which  they  intend  to adopt  in the field  covered  by the 
Directive. 
Article  6 
This  Directive  is addressed  to the Member  States. 
No C 15/6 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 20.1.77 
ANNEX  1 
1. DIMENSIONS 
1.1. The  permissible  maximum  dimensions  of vehicles,  as defined  in Annex  I of Directive 
70/156/EEC  of 6 February  1970,  are the following: 
1.1.1.  length:  11000  mm, 
1.1.2.  width:  2  500 mm, 
1.1.3.  height:  4 000 mm. 
2. WEIGHTS 
2.1. The  permissible  maximum  laden  weight  is the  technical  permissible  maximum  laden 
weight. 
2.2. The  technical  permissible  maximum  laden  weight  shall  not  exceed  3 500 kg.  It must 
meet  the following  requirements: 
2.2.1.  the technically  permissible  maximum  weight  of the  vehicle  and  of its individual 
axles  shall  not  be less  than  that  which  is the appropriate  such  weight  relative  to 
the seating  and  luggage-carrying  capacity  of the  vehicle.  These  weights  shall  be 
determined  under  the following  conditions: 
2.2.1.1.  a mass  of 68 kg is placed  on each  seating  position, 
2.2.1.2.  a mass  of 7 kg for each  seating  position  is placed  centrally  in the  boot 
(or, if there  are two  boots,  distributed  between  them  as specified  by the 
manufacturer), 
2.2.1.3.  if any  seat  is adjustable  in forward'rearward  direction,  it shall  be placed 
in the middle  of the adjustment  range  of normal  use. 
2.2.2.  When  the vehicle  and  the rear  axle  are both  loaded  to their  technically  permissible 
maximum  laden  weight,  then  the  load  on the  steered  wheels  must  be at least 
30 % of the  total  technically  permissible  maximum  laden  weight  of the  vehicle. 
3. APPLICATION  FOR  EEC  TYPE-APPROVAL 
3.1. Applications  for EEC  type-approval  in respect  of vehicle  weights  and  dimensions  are to 
be submitted  by the vehicle  manufacturer  or his authorized  representative. 
3.2. Applications  should  be accompanied  by a sketch  of the  vehicle  (in triplicate),  showing 
the weights  and  dimensions. 
3.3. A vehicle  representative  of the type  of vehicle  for which  type-approval  is sought  should 
be delivered  to the technical  service  responsible  for carrying  out the approval  tests. 
20.1.77 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities No C 15/7 
ANNEX  11 
(Maximum  format:  A 4 (210  X 297  mm)) 
Name  of administration 
Annex  to the EEC  vehicle  type-approval  certificate  with  regard  to the weights  and  dimensions 
(Article  4 (2) and Article  10 of Council  Directive  70/156/EEC  on the approximation  of the laws 
of the Member  States  relating  to the type-approval  of motor  vehicles  and their  trailers). 
Type-approval  No 
1. Trade  name  or mark  of the vehicle 
2. Vehicle  type 
3. Manufacturer's  name  and  address 
4. Where  applicable,  name  and  address  of manufacturer's  authorized  representative 
5. Description  of the type  of vehicle  concerning  the weights  and  dimensions 
6. Date  on which  vehicle  presented  for type-approval 
7. Technical  service  conducting  type-approval  examination 
8. Date  of test  report  issued  by that  service 
9. Number  of test  report  issued  by that  service 
10. Type-approval  in respect  of the weights  and dimensions  granted/refused  (') 
11. Place 
12. Date 
13. Signature 
14. A sketch  of the entire  vehicle  showing  the weights  and  dimensions  which  are dealt  with  in 
this Directive,  is annexed  to this  communication. 
(l) Delete  as appropriate.