5. 10. 87 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 265/21 
Proposal for a Council Directive on the approximation of the laws of the Member States 
relating to the lateral protection (side guards) of certain motor vehicles and their trailers 
COM(87) 132 final 
(Submitted by the Commission to the Council on 12 August 1987) 
(87/C 265/02) 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community, and in particular Article 100A 
thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
In cooperation with the European Parliament, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and 
Social Committee, 
Whereas it is important to adopt measures with the 
aim of progressively establishing the internal market 
over a period expiring on 31 December 1992; whereas 
the internal market shall comprise an area without 
internal frontiers in which the free movement of goods, 
persons, services and capital is ensured; 
Whereas the technical requirements which vehicles must 
satisfy pursuant to national laws relate inter alia to the 
side guards of motor vehicles and their trailers; 
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 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 (!), as last amended by 
the Act of Accession of Spain and Portugal, to be 
introduced in respect of each type of vehicle; 
Whereas, in order to increase road safety, it is necessary 
to fit side guards to all vehicles in higher weight catego­
ries in order to offer unprotected road users (ped­
estrians, cyclists, motorcyclists) efficient protection 
against the risk of falling under the sides of such 
vehicles; 
Whereas for practical reasons it is felt necessary to 
differentiate the application of the provisions of this 
(!) OJ No L 42, 23. 2. 1970, p. 1. Directive in time between (a) new type approvals (b) 
all new vehicles and (c) all vehicles on the road; 
Whereas the approximation of the national laws relat­
ing to motor vehicles includes the mutual recognition 
by the Member States of the checks carried out by each 
of them on the basis of common requirements, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: 
Article 1 
For the purposes of this Directive, 'vehicle' means any 
motor vehicle in categories N, and N3 and trailers in 
categories 03 and 04 (as defined in Annex I to Directive 
70/156/EEC) designed for use on the road, with or 
without bodywork and with a maximum design speed 
exceeding 25 km/h. 
Article 2 
1. No Member State may, on grounds relating to 
lateral protection, refuse to grant EEC type-approval 
or national type-approval in respect of a vehicle if such 
vehicle meets the requirements set out in the Annex. 
2. No Member State may, on grounds relating to its 
lateral protection, refuse or prohibit the sale, regis­
tration, entry into service or use of a vehicle if such a 
vehicle meets the requirements set out in the Annex. 
Article 3 
A Member State which carries out EEC-type approval 
shall take the measures necessary to ensure that it is 
informed of any modification to a part or characteristic 
referred to in the Annex. The competent authorities of 
that Member State shall determine whether fresh tests 
should be carried out on the modified type and a fresh 
report drawn up. Where such tests reveal that the 
requirements of this Directive have not been complied 
with, the modification shall not be authorized. 
No C 265/22 Official Journal of the European Communities 5. 10. 87 
Article 4 Article 6 
1. With effect from 1 October 1988, Member States: 
— may no longer issue the document provided for 
in the third indent of Article 10 (1) of Directive 
70/156/EEC in respect of a type of vehicle of which 
the lateral protection devices do not meet the 
requirements of this Directive, 
— may refuse to grant national type-approval in 
respect of a type of vehicle of which the lateral 
protection devices do not comply with the pro­
visions of this Directive. When the procedure defined in this Article is invoked, 
the Commission shall decide after consultation of the 
Committee instituted by Directive 70/156/EEC, herein­
after called 'the Committee'. The Committee shall dis­
cuss the matter on the basis of the request put forward 
by the Commission. The Commission, when asking the 
opinion of the Committee, may fix the period within 
which the opinion must be given. The deliberations 
of the Committee shall not be followed by a vote. 
Nevertheless, each member of the Committee may 
request that his opinion be recorded in the minutes. 
2. With effect from 1 May 1989 Member States may 
prohibit the entry into service of vehicles of which 
the lateral protection devices do not comply with the 
provisions of this Directive. 
3. With effect from 1 October 1989 Member States 
may prohibit the registration, the entry into service and 
the use of any vehicle of which the lateral protection 
devices do not comply with the provisions of this Direc­
tive. 
Article 5 Article 7 
1. Member States shall bring into force the pro­
visions necessary in order to comply with this Directive 
before 1 October 1988 and shall forthwith inform the 
Commission thereof. 
2. Member States shall communicate the main pro­
visions of national law which they adopt in the field 
covered by this Directive to the Commission. 
The amendments necessary in order to adapt the 
requirements of the Annex so as to take account of 
technical progress shall be adopted in accordance with 
the procedure laid down in Article 6. Article 8 
This Directive is addressed to the Member States. 
ANNEX 
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR SIDE PROTECTION 
1. General prescriptions and definitions 
1.1. Every vehicle of categories N2, N^, 03 and 04(1) shall be so constructed and/or equipped as to 
offer effective protection to unprotected road users (pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists) against the 
risk of falling under the sides of the vehicle and being caught under the wheels (2). 
The Directive does not apply to: 
— the cabs of tractive units for semi-trailers, 
— trailers specially designed and constructed for the carriage of very long loads of indivisible 
length, such as timber, steel bars, etc., 
— vehicles designed and constructed for special purposes where it is not possible, for practical 
reasons, to fit such lateral protection. 
1.2. A vehicle shall be deemed to satisfy the requirement set out in point 1.1 if its side parts provide 
protection conforming to the provisions of the paragraphs below. 
0) Categories under the international classification set out in note (b) of Annex I to 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. 
(2) This Directive does not prevent any country from having additional requirements for the vehicle parts 
forward of the front wheels and rearward of the rear wheels. 
5. 10. 87 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 265/23 
1.3. Positioning of the vehicle 
When tested for compliance with the technical specifications set out in point 2 below, the position 
of the vehicle should be as follows: 
— The vehicle shall be positioned on a horizontal and flat surface. 
— The steered wheels shall be in a straight-ahead position. 
— The vehicle shall be unladen. 
— Semi-trailers shall be positioned on their supports with the loading surface horizontal. 
1.4. Definitions 
1.4.1. Vehicle type for the purposes of lateral protection 
The term 'vehicle type for the purposes of lateral protection' means vehicles which do not differ 
with respect to the following main characteristics: 
Width of the rear axle, structure, dimensions, shape and materials of the bodywork and chassis, 
characteristics of the suspension of the vehicle in so far as they have a bearing on the requirements 
of point 2. 
2. Lateral protection provided by a specific device (side guard) 
2.1. The device shall not increase the overall width of the vehicle and the main part of its outer surface 
shall neither be more than 30 mm inboard from the outermost edge of the rear tyres (excluding 
any bulging of the tyres close to the ground), nor be more than 120 mm inboard from the outermost 
plane (maximum width) of the vehicle; its forward end may be turned inwards on some vehicles 
in accordance with 2.4.2 and 2.4.3. 
2.2. The outer surface of the device shall be smooth, substantially flat or horizontally corrugated and 
so far as possible continuous from front to rear; adjacent parts may however overlap provided 
that the overlapping edge faces rearwards or downwards, or a gap of not more than 25 mm 
measured longitudinally may be left, provided that the rearward part does not protrude outboard 
of the forward part; domed heads of bolts or rivets may protrude beyond the surface to a distance 
not exceeding 10 mm and other parts may protrude to the same extent provided that they are 
smooth and similarly rounded; all external edges and corners shall be rounded with a radius not 
less than 2,5 mm (tested as prescribed in Directive 74/483/EEC—latest amended version). 
2.3. The device may consist of a continuous flat surface, or of one or more horizontal rails, or a 
combination of surface and rails; when rails are used they shall be not less than 100 mm high and 
not more than 300 mm apart; combinations of surfaces and rails shall form a continuous side 
guard subject, however, to the provisions of 2.2. 
2.4. The forward edge of the side guard shall be constructed as follows: 
2.4.1. Its position shall be: 
2.4.1.1. on a motor vehicle: not more than 300 mm to the rear of the vertical plane passing through the 
rearmost part of the tyre on the wheel immediately forward of the guard; 
2.4.1.2. on a drawbar trailer: not more than 500 mm to the rear of the plane defined in 2.4.1.1; 
2.4.1.3. on a semi-trailer: not more than 250 mm to the rear of the transverse median plane of the support 
legs, if support legs are fitted, but in any case the distance of the front edge to the centre of the 
kingpin in its rearmost position may not exceed 2,7 m. 
2.4.2. Where the forward edge lies in otherwise open space, the edge shall consist of a continuous vertical 
member extending over the whole height of the guard; the outer and forward faces of this member 
shall measure at least 100 mm rearwards and be turned 100 mm inwards. 
2.4.3. On a motor vehicle where the cab falls within the 300 mm dimension referred to in point 2.4.1.1, 
the guard shall be so constructed as to meet the cab panels and if necessary be turned in through 
an angle not exceeding 45°. A longitudinal gap of 100 mm shall be permitted between the forward 
edge and the cab panels in the case of suspended or tilt cabs. 
No C 265/24 Official Journal of the European Communities 5. 10. 87 
2.4.4. On a motor vehicle where the 300 mm dimension referred to in 2.4.1.1 falls behind the cab and 
the side guard is extended forward as indicated in 2.4.3, as an option to the manufacturer, then 
the provisions of 2.4.3 must be met. 
2.5. The rearward edge of the side guard shall not be more than 300 mm forward of the vertical plane 
through the foremost part of the tyre on the wheel immediately to the rear; a continuous vertical 
member is not required on the rear edge, but the guard must be turned outwards to intersect with 
a vertical plane tangential to the outer surface of the tyre(s), excluding any bulging close to the 
ground, forward of this tyre. 
2.6. The lower edge of the side guard shall at no point be more than 550 mm above the ground. 
2.7. The upper edge of the guard shall not be more than 350 mm below that part of the structure of 
the vehicle, cut or contacted by a vertical plane tangential to the outer surface of the tyres, excluding 
any bulging close to the ground, except in the following cases: 
2.7.1. Where the plane in 2.7 does not cut the structure of the vehicle, then the upper edge shall be level 
with the surface of the load carrying platform, or 950 mm from the ground, whichever is the less. 
2.7.2. Where the plane in 2.7 cuts the structure of the vehicle at a level more than 1,4 m above the 
ground, then the upper edge of the side guard shall not be less than 950 mm above the ground. 
2.7.3. On a vehicle specially designed and constructed, and not merely adapted, for the carriage of a 
container or demountable body, the upper edge of the guard may be determined in accordance 
with 2.7.1 and 2.7.2 above, the container or body being considered as part of the vehicle. 
2.8. Side guards shall be essentially rigid, securely mounted (they shall not be liable to loosening due 
to vibration in normal use of the vehicle) and, except as regards the parts listed in point 2.9, made 
of metal or any other suitable material. 
The side guard shall be considered suitable if it is capable of withstanding a horizontal static force 
of 1 kN applied perpendicularly to any part of its external surface by the centre of a ram the face 
of which is circular and flat, with a diameter of 220 ± 10 mm, and if the deflection of the guard 
under load is then not more than: 
— 2>0 mm over the rearmost 250 mm of the guard, and 
— 150 mm over the remainder of the guard. 
2.8.1. The above requirement may be checked by means of calculations. 
2.9. Components permanently fixed to the vehicle, e.g. battery box, air tanks, fuel tanks, lamps, 
reflectors and tool boxes may be incorporated in the side guard, provided that they meet the 
dimensional requirements of this Directive. As regards gaps, the requirements set out in 2.2 shall 
apply. The forward edge shall comply with 2.4.2. 
2.10. The side guard may not be used for the attachment of brake, air or hydraulic pipes or electrical 
wiring. 
3. By derogation from the above provisions, vehicles of the following types need comply only as 
indicated in each case: 
3.1. An extendible trailer shall comply with all of the requirements of point 2 when closed to its 
minimum length. When the trailer is extended the side guards shall comply with 2.6, 2.7 and 2.8, 
and with either 2.4 or 2.5 but not necessarily both. Extension of the trailer shall not produce gaps 
in the length of the side guards; 
3.2. A tank-vehicle, that is a vehicle designed solely for the carriage of fluid substance in a closed tank 
permanently fitted to the vehicle and provided with hose or pipe connections for loading or 
unloading, shall be fitted with side guards which comply so far as is practicable with all the 
requirements of point 2, strict compliance may be waived only where operational requirements 
make this necessary. 
3.3. On a vehicle fitted with extendible legs to provide additional stability during loading, unloading 
or other operations for which the vehicle is designed, the side guard may be arranged with additional 
gaps where these are necessary to permit extension of the legs. 
Official Journal of the European Communities No C 265/25 
4. If the sides of the vehicle are so designed and/or equipped that by their shape and characteristics 
their component parts together meet the requirements of point 2, they may be regarded as replacing 
the side guards. 
5. Application for EEC type-approval 
5.1. The application for EEC type-approval of a vehicle type with respect to lateral protection shall be 
submitted by the vehicle manufacturer or his authorized representative. 
5.2. It must be accompanied by the undermentioned documents in triplicate and the following infor­
mation: __ 
5.2.1. A description of the vehicle from the standpoint of the criteria referred to in 1.4.1, together with 
dimensional drawings and either photographs or exploded views of the sides of the vehicle. The 
numbers and/or symbols identifying the vehicle type must be quoted. 
5.2.2. A technical description of the parts providing lateral protection together with sufficiently detailed 
information. 
5.3. A vehicle representative of the type to be approved must be submitted to the technical service 
responsible for the type-approval tests. 
6. EEC type-approval 
6.1. The EEC type-approval certificate for the vehicle type must be accompanied by an Annex drawn 
up in conformity with the model shown in the Appendix. 
No C 265/26 Official Journal of the European Communities 5. 10. 87 
Appendix 
(Maximum format: A4 (210 x 297 mm)) 
0) 
ANNEX TO THE EEC TYPE-APPROVAL CERTIFICATE IN RESPECT OF THE SIDE PROTECTION 
OF A TYPE OF VEHICLE 
(Articles 4 (2) and 10 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) 
EEC type-approval No Extension No 
1. Trade mark or name of vehicle 
2. Type of vehicle and category 
3. Name and address of manufacturer 
4. Name and address of manufacturer's authorized representative (if any) 
5. Characteristics of the parts providing lateral protection 
6. Vehicle submitted for EEC type-approval on 
7. Technical service responsible for EEC type-approval tests 
8. Date of test report issued by the technical service 
9. Nummer of test report issued by the technical service 
10. Reason(s) for the extension of the EEC type-approval (where applicable) 
11. EEC type-approval/extension has been granted/refused (2) in respect of the side protection. 
12. Place 
13. Date 
14. Signature 
15. Annexed is a list of documents making up the EEC type-approval file, deposited with the competent 
authority which granted approval; a copy can be obtained on request. 
16. Remarks (if any) 
(') Name of administration. 
i1) Delete as appropriate. 
5. 10. 87 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 265/27 
Directive ... 
EEC-type approval/extension No ... 
Type ... 
SUMMARY OF ANNEXED DOCUMENTS 
Total number of pages of the file: 9 
Number of pages of the description: 4 
Number of pages of drawings: 4 
Number of photographs: 1 
Page 
— General 1 
— General description of vehicle 2 
— Weights and dimensions 2 
— Description of side guard 3 
Drawings and photographs provided: 
— drawing(s) of installation of the device: 
— 031.3.046 (two pages A4) 
— 031.3.047 (two pages A5) 
— photograph(s): 031.13.027 (1) 
All documents, drawing and photographs shall bear the EEC type-approval/extension number.