9. 2. 89 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 33/9 
II 
(Preparatory Acts) 
COMMISSION 
Proposal for a Council Directive on speed limits for certain categories of motor vehicles in the 
Community 
COM(88) 706 final 
(Submitted by the Commission on 16 January 1989) 
(89/C 33/10) 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community, and in particular Article 75 
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 one of the objectives of a common transport 
policy is to lay down commun rules applicable to inter­
national transport within the Community and to 
facilitate the circulation of vehicles, in particular with 
regard to safety; 
Whereas the growth of road traffic and the resulting 
increase in danger and nuisances present all Member 
States with road safety and environmental problems of a 
serious nature; 
Whereas the European Parliament adopted a resolution 
on 13 March 1984 concerning a programme of 
Community measures to promote road safety (*) and a 
further resolution on 18 February 1986 concerning 
common measures to reduce road accidents as a part of 
the Community's programme for Road Safety Year 
1986 O; 
Whereas it has been proved that the risk of accidents 
increases in proportion to speed and that there is a direct 
correlation between the seriousness of accidents and 
driving speed; 
O OJ No C 104, 27. 4. 1984, p. 38. 
(*) OJ No C 68, 24. 3. 1986, p. 35. Whereas the available engine power for heavy goods 
vehicles needed for climbing slopes enables them to be 
driven on level roads at excessive speeds that are not 
compatible with the specifications of other components 
of these vehicles, such as brakes and tyres; 
Whereas the practice of mandatory installation of speed 
governors for commercial vehicles in Member States 
should, for technical reasons, be based on common 
maximum speed limits; 
Whereas motorized road traffic is one of the main 
sources of atmospheric pollution, and emission levels 
increase with speed, and, therefore a restriction in speed 
contributes to environmental protection; 
Whereas differences in cruising speeds above the level of 
the current speed limits only result in marginal 
differences in total travelling time and a limitation on 
speed leads to increased fuel economy; 
Whereas harmonization of speed limits for commercial 
vehicles will improve compliance with such limits and 
with beneficial effects on road safety, the environment 
and fuel consumption; 
Whereas speed limits on non-urban roads other than 
motorways should be fixed at a lower level than on 
motorways in order to encourage traffic on the 
motorways where safety standards are higher; 
Whereas speed limits for categories of motor vehicles 
that have a different performance in braking, stability or 
manoeuvrability, should be different; 
Whereas from the point of view of competition and a 
Community policy for the car industry, Community 
provisions on speed limits for commercial vehicles are 
desirable, 
No C 33/10 Official Journal of the European Communities 9. 2. 89 
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: 
Article 1 
For the purpose of this Directive: 
— 'motor vehicle' means any power driven vehicle 
falling within one of the international categories 
listed below and intended for use on the road, such 
vehicle being with or without bodywork, having at 
least four wheels and a maximum design speed 
exceeding 25 km/h, and its trailers, with the 
exception of vehicles which run on rails, agricultural 
tractors and machinery and public works vehicles: 
— category M2: vehicles used for the carriage of 
passengers, comprising more than eight seats in 
addition to the driver's seat, and having a 
maximum weight not exceeding five tonnes, 
— category M3: vehicles used for the carriage of 
passengers, comprising more than eight seats in 
addition to the driver's seat, and having a 
maximum weight exceeding five tonnes, 
— category Nl: vehicles used for the carriage of 
goods and having a maximum weight not 
exceeding 3,5 tonnes, 
— category N2: vehicles used for the carriage of 
goods and having a maximum weight exceeding 
3,5 but not exceeding 12 tonnes, 
— category N3: vehicles used for the carriage of 
goods and having a maximum weight exceeding 
12 tonnes, 
— 'trailer' means any vehicle intended to be coupled to 
a motor vehicle, excluding semi-trailers, 
— 'semi-trailer' means any vehicle intended to be 
coupled to a motor vehicle in such a way that part of 
it rests on the motor vehicle and a substantial part of 
its weight, and of the weight of its load, is borne by 
the motor vehicle, 
— 'built-up area' means an area with entries and exits 
specially sign-posted as such, 
— 'road' means the entire surface of any way or street 
open to public traffic, 
— 'carriageway* means the part of road normally used 
by vehicular traffic; a road may comprise several 
carriageways clearly separated from one another by, 
for example, a dividing strip or a difference of level, 
— 'expressway* means a road specially designed and 
built for motor traffic which does not serve proper­
ties bordering on it and which is provided except at 
special points or temporarily with separate 
carriageways for the two directions of traffic, — 'motorway' means a road specially designed and built 
for motor traffic, which does not serve properties 
bordering on it, and which: 
(i) is provided, except at special points or tempor­
arily, with separate carriageways for the two 
directions of traffic, separated from each other 
either by a dividing strip not intended for traffic 
or, exceptionally, by other means, 
(ii) does not cross at level with any road, railway or 
tramway track, or footpath, and 
(iii) is specially sign-posted as a motorway. 
Article 2 
Subject to the provisions of Article 3 each Member State 
shall apply to all roads the following speed limits: 
1. On motorways: 
(a) 100 km/h for motor vehicles of categories M2, 
M3, Nl and N2; 
(b) 80 km/h for motor vehicles of category N3 and 
all motor vehicles towing a trailer, semi-trailer or 
a caravan. 
2. On expressways: 
80 km/h for motor vehicles of categories M2, M3, 
Nl, N2 and N3 and all motor vehicles towing a 
trailer, semi-trailer or a caravan. 
3. On other roads outside built-up areas: 
(a) 80 km/h for motor vehicles of categories M2, 
M3, Nl and N2; 
(b) 70 km/h for motor vehicles of category N3 and 
all motor vehicles towing a trailer, semi-trailer or 
a caravan. 
4. On roads in built-up areas: 
50 km/h for motor vehicles of categories M2, M3, 
Nl, N2 and N3 and all motor vehicles towing a 
trailer, semi-trailer or a caravan. 
Article 3 
For reasons of road safety and/or for environmental 
protection lower speed limits may be fixed on roads or 
sections of roads of all categories or for residential areas. 
These lower speed limits shall be clearly indicated by 
road signs. 
9. 2. 89 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 33/11 
Article 4 
1. Member States shall, after consulting the 
Commission, adopt the laws regulations and adminis­
trative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive 
by 30 June 1989. 2. Member States shall inform the Commission of the 
measures which they have taken to implement this 
Directive. 
Article 5 
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.