ARCHIVESHISTORIQUES
DELACOMMISSION
COLLECTION RELIEEDES
DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM(82)621
Vol.1982/0194

Disclaimer
Conformément aurèglement(CEE,Euratom)n°354/83duConseildu1erfévrier1983
concernantl'ouvertureaupublicdesarchiveshistoriquesdelaCommunauté économique
européenneetdelaCommunautéeuropéennedel'énergieatomique(JOL43du15.2.1983,
p.1),telquemodifiéparlerèglement(CE,Euratom)n°1700/2003du22septembre2003
(JOL243du27.9.2003,p.1),cedossierestouvertaupublic.Lecaséchéant,lesdocuments
classifiésprésentsdanscedossierontétédéclassifiésconformément àl'article5dudit
règlement.
InaccordancewithCouncilRegulation(EEC,Euratom)No354/83of1February1983
concerningtheopeningtothepublicofthehistoricalarchivesoftheEuropeanEconomic
CommunityandtheEuropeanAtomicEnergyCommunity(OJL43,15.2.1983,p.1),as
amendedbyRegulation(EC,Euratom)No1700/2003of22September2003(OJL243,
27.9.2003,p.1),thisfileisopentothepublic.Wherenecessary,classifieddocumentsinthis
filehavebeendeclassified inconformitywithArticle5oftheaforementioned regulation.
InÜbereinstimmung mitderVerordnung(EWG,Euratom)Nr.354/83desRatesvom1.
Februar1983überdieFreigabederhistorischen ArchivederEuropäischen
Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft undderEuropäischen Atomgemeinschaft (ABI.L43vom15.2.1983,
S.1),geändertdurchdieVerordnung(EG,Euratom)Nr.1700/2003vom22.September2003
(ABI.L243vom27.9.2003,S.1),istdieseDateiderÖffentlichkeitzugänglich.Soweit
erforderlich,wurdendieVerschlusssachen indieserDateiinÜbereinstimmung mitArtikel5
dergenanntenVerordnungfreigegeben.

COMMISSION OFTHEEUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
COM(82)621
Brussels.6
Proposalfora
COUNCILDIRECTIVE
amendingdirective 76/756/EEContheapproximation ofthe
LawsoftheMemberStatesrelatingtotheinstallation of
lightingandlight-signalling devicesonmotorvehiclesand
theirtrailersfinal
October1982
(submittedtotheCouncilbytheCommission )

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
I.Légalsituation
InpursuanceofArticle6ofCouncilDirective 76/756/EEC(whichhasbecome
Article5asaresultofDirective80/233/EEC2),acertificateintheform
ofthedocumentreferredtointhelastindentofArticle10(1)of
Directive 70/156/EECconcerning theinstallation oflightingandlight-
signalling devicesis,since1October1979,grantedonlyinrespectof
vehiclesfittedwithadipped-beam adjustment devicethatsatisfiesthe
requirements setoutinitem4.2.6.ofAnnexI.
4Article2(3)ofCommissionDirective 82/244/EEC,thelatestDirective on
adaptation totechnicalprogress,providesthat,witheffectfrom
1October1984,MemberStatesmayprohibittheentryintoserviceofvehicles
inrespectofwhichacertificate-intheformoftheabovementioned
document-concerning theinstallation oflightingandlight-signalling
deviceshasbeenissuedafter1October1979,wheresuchvehiclesarenot
fittedwith?dipped-beam adjustment devicethatcomplieswiththeamended
requirements laiddowninitem4.2.6ofAnnexI(seeitems4.2.6.1,4.2.6.2.2
and4.2.6.2.3 andAppendices 5,6and7intheAnnextoDirective 82/244/EEC)
Theharmonization procedureadoptedbeing,itwillberecalled,the
"optional"method,namelythatMemberStatescannotrefuseavehiclewhich
complieswithCommunityrequirements ,butareallowedtoretaintheirown
nationalprovisions,noMemberStatehasyetmadeitmandatorytoinstall
dipped-beam adjustment devices.
II.Application oftheCommunityprovisions bythemanufacturers
Themotorvehiclemanufacturers ,whileappreciating thebenefitsthatderive
fromtheCommunitydirectives ingeneralandfromtheDirectiverelatingto
theinstallation oflightingandlight-signalling devicesinparticular,
1OJNoL262,27.9.1976,p.1.
2OJNoL51,22.5.1980,p.8.
3OJNoL42,23.2.1970,p.1.
4OJNoL109,22.4.1982,p.31.

-2-
haveelectednottoinvoketheDirectiveforthesolereasonthat,
theywouldhavehadtocomplywiththerequirement to
installdipped-beam adjustment devicesontheirvehiclesinorderto
obtaintheabovementioned EECtype-approval certificate .Sofar,
therefore,theyhavepreferredtohaverecoursetothenationalprovisions
inforceineachMemberState,whichdonot-atleastforthetime
being-includetheobligationtocomplywiththesaidCommunityrequirement .
Themanufacturers pointtothetechnicaldifficulties andtheincreasein
cost-especially inthecaseofsmallcars-thatcompliance withthis
requirement wouldinvolve.Accordingtowhetherthedipped-beam adjustment
deviceismanuallyoperatedorautomatic,theincreaseinthepurchasing
pricewouldliesomewherebetweenBFR2400andBFR4000.
Themanufacturers pointoutthatalthoughthesedeviceshelptomaintain
satisfactory visionbycorrecting thedipped-beam adjustment accordingto
vehicleloading,theyservenousefulpurposewheretheinitialadjustment
isincorrect -as,unfortunately ,itveryoftenisowingtopoormaintenance
(themajorityofcasesofdazzle)-andwheretherehasbeendeterioration
duringservice,whichisallthemoreseriousincomplexsystems.
III.PositionadoptedbytheCommission andproposalfortheamendmentof
Directive 76/756/EEC
Inthelightoftheforegoing,theCommission,towhichtheproblemwas
referredbythemotoi–vehiclemanufacturers intheMemberStates,has
conductedappropriate discussions withthegovernmental expertsfromthe
MemberStatesmeetingwithintheWorkingPartyonMotorVehiclesandhas
arrivedatthefollowingconclusions :
a)itacceptsinprinciplethatthegroundsputforwardbythemanufacturers
willremainvalidforsometime,althoughtherecentamendments introduced
bythelatestCommissionDirectivearelikelytoobviatemostofthe
disadvantages adduced;
b)itnotesthatDirective 76/756/EECisnotbeingappliedforthesole
reasonthatitcontainstheobligationtoinstallthesedipped-beam
adjustment devicesandhasthereforenotproducedtheexpectedresults;

-3-
c)actionshouldbetakentoensurethattheotherprovisions ofthis
Directive,whoseimportanceisnotindoubt,areeffectively applied
andthusprovidethebenefitsfrequently mentioned bythemanufacturers ;
d)thedateofentryintoforceoftherequirement toinstalldipped-beam
adjustment devicesonnewvehiclesshouldtherefore bepostponed
to1October1984and,inordertoallow.vehicledesigns
tobemodified,afurtherperiodofthreeyearsshouldbegranted
beforeaMemberStatemayprohibittheentryintoserviceofvehicles
thatarenotequippedwithsuchdevicesbutinrespectofwhichanEEC
type-approval certificate wasissuedbeforethecompulsoryinstallation
datewhichisthesubjectofthisamendingproposal;
e)thisopportunity shouldbetakentobringtogetherinasingletext,
forthesakeofgreaterclarity,alltheenactingtermsoftheDirectives
adoptedbytheCouncilandtheCommissionrelatingtotheinstallation
oflightingandlight-signalling devicesonmotorvehiclesandtheir
trailers.
t
IV.Consultation oftheEuropeanParliament andoftheEconomicandSocial
Committee
Inaccordance withthesecondparagraphofArticle100,theopinionof
thesetwobodiesisrequired.

Proposa Lfora
'*' COUNCILDIRECTIVE
amendingDirective 76/756/EEContheapproximation oftheLaws
oftheMemberStatesrelatingtotheinstallation oflighting
andlight-signalling devicesonmotorvehiclesandtheirtrailers
THECOUNCILOFTHEEUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
HavingregardtotheTreatyestablishing theEuropeanEconomicCommunity,and
inparticularArticle100thereof,
HavingregardtotheproposalfromtheCommission,
HavingregardtotheopinionoftheEuropeanParliament,
HavingregardtotheopinionoftheEconomicandSocialCommittee,
WhereasCouncilDirective 70/156/EECof6February1970ontheapproximation
ofthelawsoftheMemberStatesrelatingtothetype-approval ofmotor
1 .. 2vehiclesandtheirtrailers,aslastamendedbyDirective 80/1267/EECand
bytheActofAccessionofGreece,stipulatesthattheprovisions necessary
forimplementing theEECtype-approval procedureinrespectofeachofthe
partsandcharacteristics ofvehiclesaretobeadoptedbymeansofspecific
directives;whereastheprovisionsrelatingtotheinstallation oflighting
andlight-signalling deviceswereadoptedbymeansofCouncilDirectives76/756/EEC3,
4 5asamendedbyCommission Directives 80/233/EECand82/244/EEC;
Whereas,sincethemethodprovidedbyDirective 70/156/EECforharmonizing laws
is"optional",manufacturers havechosennottoinvoketheCommunity
provisions enactedbyDirective 76/756/EEC,onthegroundsthatthelatter
requirevehiclestobeequippedwithadipped-beam adjustment device(item
4.2.6ofAnnexI,asamendedbyDirective 82/244/EEC),andhavepreferredto
haverecoursetotherelevantnationalprovisions,whichdonotforthetime
beingincludesucharequirement ;whereasinordertojustifytheirchoice
themanufacturers citethetechnicaldifficulties andthecostsofimplementing
theCommunityrequirement inquestion,especially inthecaseofsmallcars;
OJNoL42,23.2.1970,p.1
2OJNoL375,31.12.1980,p.34
3OJNoL262,27.9.1976,p.1
4OJNoL51,22.5.1980,p.8
5OJNoL109,22.4.1982,p.31

-2-
Whereas,inordertoenabletheCommunityrulesonlightingandlight-signalling
devicestobeeffectively applied,thedateofentryintoforceofthe
requirements concerning theinstallation ofdipped-beam adjustment deviceson
newvehiclesshouldbepostponedto1October1984;whereasitisalso
necessarytoprovidethattheentryintoserviceofvehiclesconformingtothe
typeapprovedbeforethatdateshallnotbeprohibiteduntilthreeyearslater,
inordertogivemanufacturers timetoadapttheirmodels;
Whereas,forthesakeofgreaterclarity,itisnowdesirabletobringtogether
inasingletextalltheenactingtermsofDirective 76/756/EECandsubsequent
amendments,includingthosemadebythepresentDirective,
HASADOPTEDTHISDIRECTIVE :
Article 1
Articles 1to5ofDirective 76/756/EECareherebyreplacedbythefollowing :
"Article 1
ForthepurposesofthisDirective,'vehicle' meansanymotorvehicleintended
foruseontheroad,withorwithoutbodywork,havingatleastfourwheelsand
amaximumdesignspeedexceeding 25km/h,anditstrailers,withtheexception
ofvehicleswhichrunonrails,agricultural orforestrytractorsandmachinery,
andpublic-works vehicles.
Article2
1.NoMemberStatemay:
-refuse,inrespectofatypeofvehicle,tograntEECtypeapprovalor
nationaltypeapproval,or
-refuseorprohibitthesale,registration ,entryintoserviceoruseof
vehicles,

-3-
ongroundsrelatingtotheinstallation onthevehiclesofthelightingand
light-signalling devices,whethermandatoryoroptional,listedinitems
1.5.7to1.5.20ofAnnexIifthesedevicesareinstalledinaccordance with
therequirements setoutinAnnexI.
2.Bywayofderogation fromparagraph 1,theinstallation ofthedevices
referredtoinitem4.2.6ofAnnexIshallberequiredonlywitheffectfrom
1October1984.Nevertheless ,wheresuchdevicesareinstalledbeforethat
date,theymustsatisfytherequirements setoutinthatitem.WhereEEC
typeapproval(ortheissueofthedocumentreferredtointhelastindentof
Article10(1)ofDirective 70/156/EEC)ornationaltypeapprovalhasbeen
grantedbeforethatdateinrespectofavehicletypethatdoesnotcomply
withthesaidrequirements ,MemberStatesmayprohibittheentryintoservice
ofvehiclesofthattypewitheffectfrom1October1987.
Article3
AMemberStatewhichhasgrantedEECtypeapprovalshalltakethenecessary
measurestoensurethatitisinformedofanymodification toanyofthe
partsorcharacteristics referredtoinitem1.1ofAnnexI.Thecompetent
authorities ofthatMemberStateshalldetermine whetherfurthertestsshould
becarriedoutonthemodifiedvehicletypeandafreshreportdrawnup.
Wheresuchtestsrevealfailuretocomplywiththerequirements ofthis
Directive,themodification shallnotbeapproved.
Article4
Anyamendments necessaryinordertoadjusttherequirements oftheAnnexes
totakeaccountoftechnicalprogressshallbeadoptedinaccordance withthe
procedurelaiddowninArticle13ofDirective 70/156/EEC.
Article 5
1.MemberStatesshallbringintoforcetheprovisions necessaryinorder
tocomplywiththisDirectivenotlaterthan1October1983.Theyshall
forthwith informtheCommission thereof.

2.OncethisDirective hasbeennotified,MemberStatesshallalsoensure
thattheCommissionisinformed,insufficient timetoenableitto
submititscomments,ofanydraftlaws,regulations oradministrative
provisions whichtheyintendtoadoptinthefieldcoveredbythis
Directive."
Article 2
ThisDirectiveisaddressedtotheMemberStates.
DoneatBrussels, FortheCounciI
ThePresident