WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3328/97 by Christoph KONRAD to the Commission. Total permissible weight of coaches in the EU
Date: 1997-10-22
Institutions: European Parliament, KONRAD
Subjects: EU law, Germany, United Kingdom, approximation of laws, bus, international transport, transitional period (EU), weight and size

C 174/40

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

8. 6. 98

Sustainable development for regions such as those referred to in the question has for some length of time been
another major issue in discussions between the Union and developing countries. Indonesia is no exception to this
principle.

(98/C 174/77)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3328/97

by Christoph Konrad (PPE) to the Commission

(22 October 1997)

Subject: Total permissible weight of coaches in the EU

1.
Is  the  Commission  aware  of  the  fact  that  there  are  different  regulations  in  Germany  and  the  United
Kingdom concerning the total permissible weight of coaches (in Germany the permissible weight is 18 tonnes, in
the UK only 17 tonnes)?

Do these British transport regulations, which have only been applicable since the beginning of the year,

2.
conflict with existing Community law?

3.
Can the British authorities stop coaches from Germany weighing more than 17 tonnes from continuing their
journeys on British territory and charge excessive rental costs for the provision of a replacement British coach?

If Community law is not affected by the transport regulations in the United Kingdom, does the Commission

4.
see any reason to require EU Member States to recognize one another(cid:146)s national transport regulations?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(15 December 1997)

1.
The Commission is aware that the maximum permitted weight for two-axle vehicles (including touring
coaches) circulating in the United Kingdom is seventeen tonnes, compared with eighteen tonnes in most Member
States.

2.
This  situation  is  not  in  conflict  with  European  legislation.  Indeed,  this  matter  has  been  recognised  in
European legislation since 1989, firstly in Council Directive 89/338/EEC of 27 April 1989 amending Directive
85/3/EEC on the weights, dimensions and certain other technical characteristics of certain road vehicles (1), and
subsequently in Council Directive 96/53/EC of 25 July 1996 laying down for certain road vehicles circulating
within  the  Community  the  maximum  authorized  dimensions  in  national  and  international  traffic  and  the
maximum authorized weights in international traffic (2).

British authorities are, therefore, entitled to prevent touring coaches with a gross laden weight in excess of
3.
seventeen tonnes from circulating on their territory since such coaches are deemed to be overloaded under British
law.

4.
The current lower weight limit in the United Kingdom is permitted by means of a derogation laid down in
Article  8  of  Council  Directive  96/53/EC.  This  derogation  will  expire  on  31  December  1998,  after  which  the
United  Kingdom  will  be  obliged  to  allow  coaches  of  up  to  eighteen  tonnes  gross  laden  weight.  Given  this
timescale the Commission does not propose any actions in the meantime.

(1)  OJ L 142, 25.5.1989.
(2)  OJ L 235, 17.9.1996.