ARCHIVESHISTORIQUES
DELACOMMISSION
COLLECTION RELIEEDES
DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM(74)809
Vol.1974/0124

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MMÏSSIGNOFTHEEUIiOrEANCOMMUNiïi
COM(74)809final
Brussels,10June1974
Amendments
totheproposalforadirectiveontheapproximation
ofthelawsoftheMemberStatesrelatingtoroad­
worthinesstestsformotorvehiclesandtheirtrailers
(presentedbytheCommissiontotheCouncilunderthe
secondparagraphofArticle149oftheEECTreaty)
COM(74)809f'nal

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
Aspart oftheimplementation oftheProgramme ofCommunity Action
aimed atcontributing totheimprovement ofroad safety ,presented to
theTransport Committee oftheEuropean Parliament on8February 197l\
theCommission forwarded totheCouncil on17August 1972 aproposal
for adirective ontheapproximation ofthelaws oftheMember States
relating toroadworthiness tests formotor vehicles and their trailers .
This directive isintended toeliminate the difficulties arising from
thedeterioration ofvehicles asaresult oftheir conditions ofuse ,
their age and from negligent maintenance .These factors reduce their
operational safety and thus cause accidents ,oratleast make the con­
sequences ofaccidents more serious .Present national regulations differ ,
especially asregards thecategories ofvehicle undergoing compulsory
tests ,the frequency and extent ofthe tests ;the age atwhich vehicles
must betested for the first time ,etc .
/
Theproposal for the directive inquestion envisages abasic approximat­
ion ofthe laws covering this field .
TheEuropean Parliament expressed itsopinion ofthis proposal atits
2session on1**February 197^»theEconomic andSocial Committee didso
on23Mai'19733.
OJNoC119of16November 1972 ,page 9*
20JNoC23of8March 197^,page5k.
^OJNoC60of26July1973 »page 5•

-2-
After close study ofthaobservations set out in .these Opinions ,the
Commission has decided toactupon allthose observations and forthis
purpose ,under thesecond paragraph ofArticle 1^9oftheTreaty ,to
introduce proposals foramendments totheoriginal proposal for a
directive .
These proposals foramendments relate ,specifically to:
Article 1(Date ofintroduction ofroadworthiness tests conforming to
Community requirements )
1January 1975i bywhich time theMember States should have
complied with theprovisions oftheDirective ,inthe Opinion
oftheEuropean Parliament ,the formula "assoon aspossible
and atthe latest one year after adoption ofthis Directiv e'•.
Article 2(compulsory periodic testing andextent ofapplication )
(second indent )
The Economic andSocial Committee considers that exemption from
roadworthiness tests ofagricultural tractors with adesign
speed notexceeding 25km/hshould beextended totractors de­
signed forforestry work .Ittherefore wishes thewords "forestry
undertakings "tobeadded inthesecond indent ofArticle 2,
which thus becomes vehicles specially designed for use on
construction sites oronagricultural holdings andinforestry
undertakings andhaving amaximum design speed notexceeding
25km/h:"

-3-
4 Article 8(Imported used vehicles )(second sentence )
IntheArticle concerned ,theintention oftheproposal for a
directive was tofacilitate theimport andregistration of
used vehicles between theMember States ,provided that a
certificate wasissued bytheMember State exporting the
vehicle inquestion .Inorder topreclude anypossibility of
fraud ,theEuropean Parliament envisages ,bythedeletion of
thesecond sentence inquestion ,testing before anyregistration
ofanimported used vehicle .
Article 10(Time-limits forperiodic tests )(paragraphs 2and3)
Article 10stipulates inparagraphs 2and3thereof that the
time-limits for the tests shall beextended ifavehicle is
outofuse forlong periods .For thesake ofsimplicity ,the
European Parliament wishes toeliminate ,byremoving thesecond
andthird paragraphs from Article 10,anypossibility ofderogat­
ingfrom thetime-limits setforthetests .
Article 11(Carrying-out ofthetest )(paragraph *f)
Paragraph kofArticle 11makes provision forlaying .,down
special procedures forvehicles belonging tothearmed forced
'andtothepolice ,onaccount ofthespecial conditions under
which these organizations work .While recognizing theright of
••*/•*«

-k-
Member States tolaydown special procedures forthese vehicles ,
theEuropean Parliament nonetheless holds theview that ,for
safety reasons ,these vehicles should besubject tothesame
safety standards asother vehicles .
Annex I,A,Item 1-Motorcycles
Inorder toimprove theeffectiveness ofmotorcycle testing ,
theEuropean Parliament isoftheopinion that itispreferable
toset the frequency ofthe tests according tothe following
formula :"atthe end ofthree years from the date ofthe first
registration andannually thereafter "rather than "four years ".
Italso believes itisnecessary todefine motorcycles as
follows :"Any two-orthree-wheeled vehicle ,with amaximum
design speed greater than 45km/hour orwith amaximum permis­
sible weight greater than 250kgor,inthe case ofvehicles
fitted with aninternal-combustion engine ,having aswept volume
greater than 50cc".
Anncx I,A,Item M-
Inorder torecuce the tests onvehicles with arelatively low
permissible weight covered bythis item ,and toinclude init
most vehicles which areused for distributive purposes and
which consequently have alowannual mileage ,theEuropean
Parliament wishes :
(a)thetime-limit for the first roadworthiness test tobeex­
tended from two tothree years ;

(b)theweightlimitforthisvehiclecategorytoberaised
from3500to5000kg,whichinvolvesthesameamendment
initemparagraph5immediately following.
AnnexI,A,item7
Forthesakeofsimplifying thetests,theEuropeanParliament
ifoftheopinionthatthetestingoftrailerswithamaximum
permissible weightnogreaterthan1500kgissuperfluous where
theyareusedexclusivelyforthecarriageofluggage,camping
equipmentorboats.
AnnexI,A,item8
Inaccordancewiththeamendmenttoitem7iandforreasonsof
clarity,theEuropeanParliamentisoftheopinionthatin
item8"Trailersandsemi-trailers themaximumpermissible
weightofwhichisgreaterthan1^00kg"shouldbespecified.
AnnexI,A,iten9
InordertoformulatethetextofAnnexIaspreciselyaspos­
sible,theEuropeanParliament recommendseliminatingpoint9»
whichcovers"vehiclesnotincludedinanyoftheforegoing
categories".
AnnexI.B,secondparagraph
Inordertoimprovethesafetyandcomfortofpublicservice
vehicles,theEuropeanParliament recommendsthatthecompul­
soryinspectionofthevehiclesbeextendedtoadditional com­
ponentssuchasventilation andheatingsystemsandseatlayout
Itthereforeseemsnecessarytosay"airerequired"ratherthan
"mayberequired".
*••/4»•

/"-o-
Annex I,Btfourth paragraph
Inorder toclarify the sentence theEuropean Parliament wishes
the fourth paragraph ofsection BofAnnex Itobeformulated
asfollows :"Where "visual "inspection isspecified ,itincludes ,
where necessary ,physical manipulation ofthe relevant parts ,
testing for certain noises ,etc.".

7-
Proposal amending
theproposal for aDirective on
theapproximation ofthelaws ofthe
Member States relating totheroadworthiness
tests for motor vehicles and their trailers
Theproposal for aDirective forwarded on17August J-972 isamended by
-anamendment toArticle 1;
-anamendment toArticle 2,second indent ;
-anamendment toArticle 8,second sentence ;
-twoamendments toArticle 10,second andthird paragraphs ;
-anamendment toArticle 11,paragrapn
-two amendments toAnnex I,A,item 1;
-twoamendments toAnnex I,A,item 4;
-anamendment toAnnex I,A,item 5»
-anamendment toAnnex X,-A,item 7î
-anamendment toAnnex X,A,item 8;
-anamendment toAnnex I,A,item 9î
-anamendment toAnnex I,B,second paragraph ;
-anamendment toAnnex I,B,fourth paragraph .

ORIGINAL TEXT AMaJirD'SD TUXT
Article 1
(Date ofintroduction ofroad-
worthiness tests conforming toCom­
munity requirements )
The Member States shall take the
necessary steps toensure that ,as
from 1January 1975 atthelatest ,
motor vehicles and their trailers
registered intheir territory shall
betested for roadworthiness inac­
cordance with theprovisions of
this Directive and ofitsAnnexes ,
which form anintegral part thereof
Article 2
(Compulsory periodic testing andex­
tent ofapplication )
Motor vehicles and their trailers
shall undergo compulsory periodic
tests for roadworthiness .The
frequency andscope ofthetests
shall beasshown inAnnex I.The
public authorities maydelegate theArticle 1
Date ofintroduction ofperiodic
roadworthiness tests conforming to
Community requirements .
Th3 Member States shall take the
necessary steps toensure that ,as
soon aspossible and atthe latest
one year after adoption ofthis
Directive ,motor vehicles andtheir
trailers registered intheir terri­
tory shall beperiodically tested
for roadworthiness inaccordance
with theprovisions ofthis Directive
and ofits Annexes ,which form an
integral part thereof .
Article 2
-(Compulsory periodic testing and
extent ofapplication )
Motor vehicles and their trailers
shall undergo compulsory periodic
tests for roadworthiness .The fre­
quency andscope ofthetests shall
beasshown inAnnex I.Thepublic
authorities maydelegate thetask

ORIGINAL TEXT
Artide 2(continue d)
task ofcarrying out the tests to
one ormore appointed agencies or
toapproved experts .
Thefollowing vehicles areexempt
from theperiodic roadworthiness
tests :
-mopeds ,but only where thenat­
ional lawdistinguishes mopeds
from motorcycles ;
-vehicles specially designed for
use onconstruction sites oron
agricultural holdings andhaving
amaximum design speed not exceed'
ing 25km/h;
-trailers with apermissible max­
imum laden weight not exceeding
^00kgorwhich are intended for
use coupled todrawing vehicles
having amaximum design speed not
exceeding 25km/h.
However ,theMember States mayex­
tend theperiodic test requirement9-
AMSNDED TEXI
Article 2(continued )
ofcarrying out the tests tooneor
more appointed agencies ortoap­
proved experts .
Thefollowing vehicles areexempt
from theperiodic roadworthiness
tests :
-mopeds ,but only where the nat­
ional lawdistinguishes mopeds
from motorcycles ;
-vehicles specially designed for
use onconstruction sites oron
agricultural 'holdings andin
*forestry undertakings andhaving
amaximum design speed not exceed­
ing25km/h}
-trailers with apermissible max­
imum laden weight not exceeding
500kgorwhich areintended for
usecoupled todrawing vehicles
having amaximum design speed not
exceeding 25km/h.
However ,theMember States mayex­
tend theperiodic test requirement
•••/•#»

-10-
ORIGINAL TEXT
Article 2(continued )
tocertain ofthevehicles previous­
lymentioned andregistered intheir
territories .
Article 8
(Iraported used vehicles )
Each Member State shall ,before re­
gistering anyimported used vehicle
require ittoundergo aroadworth -
iness test .Such atest shall not be
required ifitisproved ,bya
certificate issued inthe Meuber
State from which the vehicle isim­
ported ,that thevehicle was tested
within two months immediately pre­
ceding therequest forregistration .
Article 10
(Time-limits forperiodic tests )
1.For vehicles first put ontile
road ,the time-limit for the
first roadworthiness test isAMENDED TEX.T
Article 2(continued )
tocertain ofthevehicles previous­
lymentioned andregistered in
their territories .
Article 8
Imported used vehicles .
Each Member State shall ,before
registering anyimported used
vehicle ,require ittoundergo a
roadworthiness test .
(Second sentence deleted )
Article 10
Time-limits forperiodic tests
1.unaltered

-11-
ORIGINAL TEXT AIENDED TEXT
Artide IO(continued ) Artide 10 (continued )
reckoned from the uate ofissue
oftheregistration plate .
2.For vehicles which are taken off 2.deleted
the road for atleast sixmonths ,
either bythe owner ,who shall
have duly informed the competent
/
authority ofthe fact ,orasa
result ofofficial action ,the
time-limit for the next road -
worthiness test shall beextended
byaperiod corresponding tothe
time the vehicle isoff the road .
If,however ,the date fixed for
the test falls within theperiod
when thevehicle istemporarily
off the road ,thevehicle shall
not bereadmitted onthe road
unless ithasundergone the test .
3.Upon application bytheholder of3-deleted
the certificate ofregistration
oratthe instance ofthe testing
centre ,the time-limit forpre­
senting thevehicle for the test
may beextended for aperiod not
exceeding two months .
•••/•••

-12-
ORIGINAL TÏÏXT ..
Article 11
(Carrying outofthetest )AMSND3D TEXT
Article 11
Carrying outofthe test
1.The tests tobecarried out are 1.unaltered
described inAnnex I.Ifthe re­
sult ofthe test isdescribed as
provided inparagraph 3>aroad -
worthiness disc inform set out
inAnnex IIshall beissued .
2.The roadworthiness disc shall be 2.unaltered
first affixed upon thevehicle
when thevehicle isregistered .
After each periodic test anew
disc shall beaffixed .
The roadworthiness disc shall be
firmly affixed and ,ifpracticable ,
shall beaffixed tothe rear re­
gistration plate .Ifthis isim­
practicable ,itshall beaffixed
insome other place clearly
visible from outside the vehicle .

ORIGINAL TEXT
Article II (continued )AMiiNDED TEXT
Article 11(continued )
Aroadworthiness disc shall cease
tobevalid atthe end ofthe
second month following the month
indicated onthe disc .
When avehicle isfound tobein 3«unaltered
good running order ,wxth node-
fects likely toaffect the smooth
flow orsafety orroad traffic ,
the testing centre shall issue
and affix aroadworthiness disc .
When defects are found which do
not constitute any immediate
danger for traffic safety ,but
nevertheless make the continued
use ofthe vehicle onthe road
unsafe ,thetesting centre shall
fix atime-limit within which
the Vehicle shall bere-tested
for thepurpose ofchecking
whether the d3fects have been
eliminated .

-1^-
ORIGINALTEXT AMENDEDTEXT
Artide11(continued) Artide11(continued)
Thedefectsfoundandthetime-
liraitallowedforretestingshall
berecordedonadocumenttobe
keptinthevehicle.Thenewroad-
worthiness discshallnotbeis­
sueduntilrepairhasbeeneffect­
edanddulyverified.
Ifthedefectsrepresentanim­
mediatedangerforroadtraffic,
thevehicleshallnotbeusedon
theroadexceptforthepurpose
ofdrivingthevehicle,without
passengersorload,fromthetest­
ingcentretotheowner'shomeor
toagarageforrepair.Inthis
casetoo,thedefectsshallbere­
cordedonadocumentissuedbythe
testingcentretobekeptinthe
vehicle;theroadworthiness disc
shallbewithdrawn .
Specialprocedures maybelaid
downforvehiclesbelongingto
thearmedforcesandtothe
police.k.Specialprocedures maybelaid
downforvehiclesbelongingto
thearmedforcesandtothe
police.Thesevehiclesshall,
however,meatthesamesafety
standards asothervehicles.
•/«••

ORIGINAL TEXT
ANNEX I '
FREQUENCY ANDMETHOD OFTESTING
A.FREQUENCY OFTESTS
Motor vehicles andtrailers must undergo aroad-
worthiness test atthefollowing intervals :
1.Motorcycles : Every four years
2*Motor cars for –four years after first
private use : registratiôn
-annually thereafter .
This provision shall apply
even where the vehicle has
been tested for road -
worthiness pursuant to
Articles 3and 7during
thefirst three years
following first
registration .AMENDED TEXT
ANNEX I
FREQUENCY ANDMETHOD OFTESTING
A.FREQUENCY OFTESTS
Motor vehicles andtrailers must undergo aroad-
worthiness test atthefollowing intervals :
1.Motorcycles (alltwo-or Three years after
three –wheele dvehicles !with first registration
amaximum design speed greater re-testing annually
•than km/horwith amaximum thereafter .
permissible weight greater " ~~~
than 250kgor,inthecase of
vehicles fitted with an
internal combustion engine ,
having aswept volume greater
than 50cc):
2.unaltered

ORIGINALTEXT
Vehicles,otherthan
thosecomprisedin
categories 1and2
above,forthecar­
riageofpassengers
(includingdual-
purposevehicles)
withnotmorethan
eightseats,exclud­
ingthedrivingseat
(e.g.hire-cars,
whetherchauffeur-
drivenorself-drive,
taxis,ambulances,
minibuses,etc.)-twoyearsafterfirst
registration
-re-testingannually
thereafter.
Vehiclesforthecar-Every2years
riageofgoods,the
maximumpermissible
weightofwhichdoesnot
exceed3500kg:
Vehiclesforthecar-Annually
nageofgoods,the
maximumpermissible
weightofwhichex-
ceeds3500kg:3.unalteredAMENDEDTEXT
H.Vehiclesforthecarriageof
goods,themaximumpermis­
sibleweightofwhichdoes
notexceed5000kg:CTN
Threeyearsafter '
firstregistration ,
re-testingannually
thereafter
5•VehiclesforthecarriageofAnnually
goods,themaximumpermis­
sibleweightofwhichex­
ceeds5000kg:

ORIGINAL TEXT AMENDED TEXT
6.Vehicles forthecar-Every sixmonths 6.unaltered
riage ofpassengers
with more than eight
seats ,excluding the
driving seat :
Trailers with amaximum Every twoyears
permissible weight of
1500kgused ex-
clusively for the car-
riage ofluggage ,
camping equipment or
boats .Caravans :
8.Trailers and semi­
trailers other than
those comprised in
category 7J •Annually7.Caravans : Every twoyears
H
-vj
8.Trailers andsemi-trailers ,
the maximum permissible
weight ofwhich exceeds
1500 kg:Annually
9.Vehicles not comprised
inany ofthe fore­
going categories :Every twoyears 9.deleted

-18-
ORIGINAL TEXT,
ANNEXI
B.ITEMSTOBETESTED,METHODSAND
CONDITIONS OFTEST
Thetestmustatleastcoverthe
itemslistedinthetablebelow,
wheretheseformpart,whether
mandatoryornot,ofthevehicle.
Thislistmustnotberegardedas
exhaustive andinthecaseofpublic
servicevehiclestestsmaybere­
quiredonadditionalitemsaffecting
thesafetyandcomfortofthepas­
sengerssuchasheatingandventil­
atingsystems,seatlay-out,etc.
Dependingontheitemconcernedand
thestateofthevehicle,thetest
maycomprisevisualinspections or
operationaltestsorboth.
"Visual"inspectionisspecified
whereverthisispossiblewithout
dismantling acomponent.ItmayAMENDEDTEXT
ANNEXI
B.ITEMSTOBETESTED,METHODSAND
CONDITIONS OFTEST
Unaltered
Thislistmustnotberegardedas
exhaustive andinthecaseof
publicservicevehiclestests
arerequiredonadditonalitems ;
affectingthesafetyandcomfort
oxthepassengers ,suchasheating
andventilating systemsandseat
lay-out.
Unaltered.
Where"visual"inspection xsspe­
cifieditincludes,whereneces­
sary,physicalmanipulation ofthe
••9/•f0

-19-
ORIGINAL TEXT
ANNEX I
B.ITEMS TOBETESTED ,METHODS AND
CONDITIONS OFTEST (continued )
where necessary include physical
manipulation oftherelevant parts
testing forcertain noises ,etc .
Itmust include acheck onany
prescribed type-approval marks of
vehicles and equipment .Itmust
also bedesigned todetect the
following :AMENDED TEXT
ANNEX I
B.ITEMS TOBETESTED ,METHODS AND
CONDITIONS OFTEST (continued )
relevant parts ,testing for certain
noises ,etc.
Unaltered
-attachments and assemblies ina Unaltered
poor condition andanyexcessive
play therem ;
-deformation and/orcracking likely
toaffect adversely theproper
functioning ofcertain components ;
-signs ofabnormal chaffing (on
brake lines ,forexample );
-abnormal orexcessive wear leadmg
torapid failure ofacomponent ; -■ •
-leaking hoses (brake lines ,for
example );

-20-
AMENDED TEXT
ANNEX I
B.ITEMS TOBETESTED ,METHODS AND B.ITEMS TOBETESTED ,METHODS AND
CONDITIONS OFTEST (continued ) CONDITIONS OFTEST (continued )
-oxidation orcorrosion ,where Unaltered
these may adversely affect the in­
tegrity orproper functioning of
certain components :
-the absence ofanymandatory
safety devices ;
thepresence ofnon-standard welds
orsigns ofheating oncertain
particularly important components
such asthe steering linkage or
the axles .
Basically ,tests are tobecarried Unaltered
outusing conventional techniques
and theequipment normally available
invehicle testing stations .
•••/•••ORIGINAL TEXT
ANN3X I

-21-
i Methods and conditions for testing
Items tobetestedVisual
inspection
-ORIGINAL TEXT -Test of
functionParticular
conditions"1
1.Condition ofbralting !
i una1tered
system
2.oteering una1tered
3-Visibility una1tered
H.Lights and reflectora una1tered
Axles ,wheels ,suspensions una1tered
6.Châssis ,elements fixed una1tered
tothe châssis
7-Other equipment una1tered
8.Damage ]
iuna1tered
9.Other tests II
iuna1tered
AMENDSD TEXT -
10.Supplementary tests ■i i
i i i
forpublic transport ;
vehicles
I
II ■
I
I
10.1 .Heating system i
-'• 1! \
I !
i ii
i +
10.2 .Ventilating system +
10.3 .Seat lay-out
I
i+ I
I
j