Regulation No 39 of the Economic Commission for Europe of the United Nations (UN/ECE) — Uniform provisions concerning the approval of vehicles with regard to the speedometer equipment including its installation
Date: 2004-03-31
Institutions: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
Subjects: approval, harmonisation of standards, vehicle parts

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(Acts whose publication is obligatory)

Regulation No 39 of the Economic Commission for Europe of the United Nations (UN/ECE) —
Uniform provisions concerning the approval of vehicles with regard to the speedometer
equipment including its installation (*)

1.

2.

2.1.

2.2.

SCOPE

This Regulation applies to the approval of vehicles of categories L, M and N (1).

DEFINITIONS

For the purposes of this Regulation:

‘Approval of a vehicle’ means the approval of a vehicle type with regard to the speedometer
equipment including its installation.

‘Type of vehicle in respect of its speedometer’ means vehicles which do not among them-
selves display any essential differences, where those differences can apply, in particular to the
following:

2.2.1.

the size designation of the tyres chosen from the range of tyres normally fitted;

2.2.2.

the overall transmission ratio, including any reduction drives, to the speedometer;

2.2.3.

the type of speedometer as characterised by:

2.2.3.1.

the tolerances of the speedometer's measuring mechanism;

2.2.3.2.

the technical constant of the speedometer;

2.2.3.3.

the range of speeds displayed.

2.3.

2.4.

2.5.

2.5.1.

2.5.2.

‘Tyres normally fitted’ means the type or types of tyre provided by the manufacturer on the
vehicle type in question; snow tyres shall not be regarded as tyres normally fitted;

‘Normal running pressure’ means the cold inflation pressure specified by the vehicle manu-
facturer increased by 0,2 bar;

‘Speedometer’ means that part of the speedometer equipment which indicates to the driver
the speed of his vehicle at any given moment (2);

‘Tolerances of the speedometer's measuring mechanism’ shall mean the accuracy of the
speedometer instrument
itself, expressed as the upper and the lower speed indication
limits for a range of speed inputs;

‘Technical constant of
revolutions or pulses per minute and a specified displayed speed;

the speedometer’ shall mean the relationship between the input

(*) Publication in accordance with Article 4(5) of Council Decision 97/836/EC of 27 November 1997 (OJ L 346,

17.12.1997, p. 78).

(1) As defined in annex 7 of

the Consolidated Resolution on the Construction of Vehicles (R.E.3)

(document

TRANS/WP.29/78/Rev. 1/Amend. 2).

(2) This does not include the speed-indicating part of a tachograph if this complies with type approval specifications
which do not permit an absolute difference between true and indicated speed which is higher than the values
resulting from the requirements in paragraph 5.3. below.

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2.6.

3.

3.1.

3.2.

‘Unladen vehicle’ means the vehicle in running order, complete with fuel, coolant, lubricant,
tools and a spare wheel (if provided as standard equipment by the vehicle manufacturer),
carrying a driver weighing 75 kg, but no driver's mate, optional accessories or load.

APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL

The application for approval of a vehicle type with regard to the speedometer equipment
including its installation shall be submitted by the vehicle manufacturer or by his duly
accredited representative.

It shall be accompanied by the following documents in triplicate and by the following
particulars:

3.2.1.

a description of the vehicle type with regard to the items mentioned in paragraphs 2.2, 2.3,
2.4 and 2.5 above; the vehicle type shall be specified.

3.3.

3.4.

4.

4.1.

4.2.

4.3.

4.4.

An unladen vehicle representative of the vehicle type to be approved shall be submitted to
the technical service conducting approval tests.

The competent authority shall verify the existence of satisfactory arrangements for ensuring
effective control of the conformity of production before type approval is granted.

APPROVAL

If the vehicle type submitted for approval pursuant to this Regulation meets the requirements
of the Regulation in respect of the speedometer equipment including its installation, approval
of that vehicle type shall be granted.

An approval number shall be assigned to each type approved. The first two digits shall be the
highest number of the series of amendments incorporated in the Regulation at the time of
issue of the approval. The same Contracting Party may not assign the same number to
another vehicle type subject to the provisions of paragraph 6 of this Regulation.

Notice of approval or of refusal of approval of a vehicle type pursuant to this Regulation
shall be communicated to the Parties to the Agreement which apply this Regulation by means
of a form conforming to the model in annex 1 to this Regulation and of diagrams, supplied
by the applicant for approval, of the installation in a format not larger than A4 (210 ×
297 mm) or folded to that format, and on an appropriate scale.

To every vehicle conforming to a vehicle type approved under this Regulation there shall be
affixed in a conspicuous and easily accessible position, specified on the approval form, an
international approval mark consisting of:

4.4.1.

a circle surrounding the letter ‘E’ followed by the distinguishing number of the country which
has granted approval (1);

(1) 1 for Germany, 2 for France, 3 for Italy, 4 for the Netherlands, 5 for Sweden, 6 for Belgium, 7 for Hungary, 8 for
the Czech Republic, 9 for Spain, 10 for Yugoslavia, 11 for the United Kingdom, 12 for Austria, 13 for Luxembourg,
14 for Switzerland, 15 (vacant), 16 for Norway, 17 for Finland, 18 for Denmark, 19 for Romania, 20 for Poland, 21
for Portugal, 22 for the Russian Federation, 23 for Greece, 24 for Ireland, 25 for Croatia, 26 for Slovenia, 27 for
Slovakia, 28 for Belarus, 29 for Estonia, 30 (vacant), 31 for Bosnia and Herzegovina, 32 for Latvia, 33 (vacant), 34
for Bulgaria, 35 (vacant), 36 for Lithuania, 37 for Turkey, 38 (vacant), 39 for Azerbaijan, 40 for The former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, 41 (vacant), 42 for the European Community (Approvals are granted by its
Member States using their respective ECE symbol), 43 for Japan, 44 (vacant), 45 for Australia, 46 for Ukraine,
47 for South Africa and 48 for New Zealand. Subsequent numbers shall be assigned to other countries in the
chronological order in which they ratify or accede to the Agreement Concerning the Adoption of Uniform Technical
Prescriptions for Wheeled Vehicles, Equipment and Parts which can be Fitted and/or be Used on Wheeled Vehicles
and the Conditions for Reciprocal Recognition of Approvals Granted on the Basis of these Prescriptions, and the
numbers thus assigned shall be communicated by the Secretary-General of the United Nations to the Contracting
Parties to the Agreement.

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4.4.2.

4.5.

4.6.

4.7.

the number of this Regulation, followed by the letter ‘R’, a dash and the approval number to
the right of the circle described in paragraph 4.4.1.

If the vehicle conforms to a vehicle type approved under one or more other Regulations
annexed to the Agreement in the country which has granted approval under this Regulation,
the symbol prescribed in paragraph 4.4.1 need not be repeated; in such a case the additional
numbers and symbols of all the Regulations under which approval has been granted in the
country which has granted approval under this Regulation shall be placed in vertical columns
to the right of the symbol prescribed in paragraph 4.4.1.

The approval mark shall be clearly legible and shall be indelible.

The approval mark shall be placed close to or on the vehicle data plate affixed by the
manufacturer.

4.8.

Annex 2 to this Regulation gives examples of arrangements of approval marks.

5.

5.1.

5.1.1.

5.1.2.

5.1.3.

5.1.4.

5.2.

5.2.1.

5.2.2.

SPECIFICATIONS

The display of the speedometer must be located within the direct field of view of the driver
and must be clearly legible both day and night. The range of speeds displayed must be
sufficiently wide to include the maximum speed of this type of vehicle as stated by the
manufacturer.

In the case of speedometers intended for vehicles of categories M, N, and L3, L4 and L5, the
graduation shall be 1, 2, 5 or 10 km/h. The numerical values of the speed shall be indicated
on the display as follows: when the highest value on the display does not exceed 200 km/h,
speed values shall be indicated at intervals not exceeding 20 km/h. When the maximum
value on the display exceeds 200 km/h, then the speed values shall be indicated at intervals
not exceeding 30 km/h. The indicated numerical speed value intervals need not be uniform.

In the case of vehicles manufactured for sale in any country where imperial units are used,
the speedometer shall also be marked in miles per hour (mph); the graduations shall be of 1,
2, 5 or 10 mph. The values of the speed shall be indicated on the dial at intervals not
exceeding 20 mph and commencing at 10 or 20 mph. The indicated speed value intervals
need not be uniform.

In the case of speedometers intended for vehicles of categories L1 (mopeds) and L2, the
display readings must not exceed 80 km/h. The graduation shall be 1, 2, 5 or 10 km/h
and the marked numerical values of the speed indicated shall not exceed 10 km/h. The
indicated numerical speed value intervals need not be uniform.

In the case of vehicles of categories M, N, and L3, L4 and L5 manufactured for sale in any
country where imperial units are used, the speedometer shall also be marked in mph (miles
per hour); the graduation shall be of 1, 2, 5 or 10 mph. The numerical values of the speed
shall be indicated on the display at intervals not exceeding 20 mph and commencing at 10 or
20 mph. The indicated numerical speed value intervals need not be uniform.

The accuracy of the speedometer equipment shall be tested in accordance with the following
procedure:

The tyres shall be one of the types normally fitted to the vehicle as defined in paragraph 2.3
of this Regulation. A test shall be carried out for each type of speedometer intended to be
fitted by the manufacturer.

The test shall be carried out with the vehicle at its unladen weight. An additional weight can
be carried for purposes of measurement. The weight of the vehicle and its distribution
between the axles shall be indicated in the approval communication (see annex 1,
paragraph 6).

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5.2.3.

The reference temperature at the speedometer shall be 23 °C ± 5 °C.

5.2.4.

During each test the pressure of the tyres shall be the normal running pressure as defined in
paragraph 2.4.

5.2.5.

The vehicle is tested at the following speeds:

Maximum design speed Vmax of the
vehicle specified by the vehicle manufacturer (km/h)

Test speed (V1) (km/h)

Vmax £ 45

45 < Vmax £ 100

100 < Vmax £ 150

150 < Vmax

80 % of Vmax

40 km/h and 80 % Vmax
(if the resulting speed is ‡ 55 km/h)

40 km/h, 80 km/h and 80 % Vmax
(if the resulting speed is ‡ 100 km/h)

40 km/h, 80 km/h and 120 km/h

5.2.6.

The test instrumentation used for measuring the true vehicle speed shall be accurate to
± 0,5per cent.

5.2.6.1.

The surface of a test track when used shall be flat and dry, and provide sufficient adhesion;

5.2.6.2.

if a roller dynamometer is used for the test, the diameter of the roller should be at least
0,4 m.

5.3.

6.

6.1.

The speed indicated shall not be less than the true speed of the vehicle. At the test speeds
specified in paragraph 5.2.5 above, there shall be the following relationship between the
speed displayed (V1) and the true speed (V2).

0 (cid:1) ðV1 (cid:2) V2Þ (cid:1) 0,1 V2 þ 4 km=h

MODIFICATIONS OF THE VEHICLE TYPE

Every modification of
department which approved the vehicle type. The department may then either:

the vehicle type shall be communicated to the administrative

6.1.1.

consider that the modifications made are unlikely to have an appreciable adverse effect and
that in any case the vehicle still meets the requirements; or

6.1.2.

require a further test report from the technical service responsible for conducting the tests.

6.2.

7.

7.1.

7.2.

Notice of confirmation or refusal of approval, accompanied by particulars of the modifi-
cations, shall be communicated by the procedure specified in paragraph 4.3 above to the
Parties to the Agreement applying to this Regulation.

CONFORMITY OF PRODUCTION

The conformity of production procedures shall comply with those set out in the Agreement,
Appendix 2 (E/ECE/324-E/ECE/TRANS/505/Rev. 2), with the following requirements:

Every vehicle approved under this Regulation shall be so manufactured as to conform to the
type approved by meeting the requirements of the relevant part(s) of this Regulation.

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7.3.

7.4.

7.5.

8.

8.1.

8.2.

9.

For each type of vehicle sufficient checks are carried out regarding the speedometer
equipment and its installation;
the test
prescribed in annex 3 to this Regulation shall be carried out.

for each type of vehicle at

in particular,

least

The authority, which has granted type approval, may at any time verify the conformity
control methods applied in each production facility. The normal frequency of these verifi-
cations shall be once every two years.

Where unsatisfactory results are found during verifications and checks pursuant to paragraph
7.4 above, the competent authority shall ensure that all necessary steps are taken to restore
conformity of production as rapidly as possible.

PENALTIES FOR NON CONFORMITY OF PRODUCTION

The approval granted for a vehicle type pursuant to this Regulation may be withdrawn if the
requirement laid down in paragraph 7.1 above is not met or if the vehicles have failed to
pass the checks prescribed in paragraph 7 above.

If a Party to the Agreement which applies this Regulation withdraws an approval
it has
previously granted, it shall forthwith so notify the other Contracting Parties applying this
Regulation, by means of a communication form conforming to the model in annex 1 to this
Regulation.

NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF TECHNICAL SERVICES RESPONSIBLE FOR CONDUCTING APPROVAL
TESTS AND OF ADMINISTRATIVE DEPARTMENTS

The Parties to the Agreement applying this Regulation shall communicate to the secretariat of
the United Nations the names and addresses of
the technical services responsible for
conducting approval tests and of the administrative departments which grant approval and
to which forms certifying approval or extension or refusal or withdrawal of approval, issued
in other countries, are to be sent.

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ANNEX 1

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ANNEX 2

ARRANGEMENTS OF APPROVAL MARKS

Model A

(see paragraph 4.4 of this Regulation)

The above approval mark affixed to a vehicle shows that the vehicle type concerned has been approved in the
Netherlands (E 4), pursuant to Regulation No 39. The approval number indicates that the approval was granted in
accordance with the requirements of Regulation No 39 in its original form.

Model B

(see paragraph 4.5. of this Regulation)

The above approval mark affixed to a vehicle shows that the vehicle type concerned has been approved in the
Netherlands (E 4) pursuant to Regulations Nos 39 and 33 (1). The approval numbers indicate that, at the dates when
the respective approvals were granted, Regulations Nos 39 and 33 were still in their original form.

(1) The second number is given merely as an example.

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TEST OF SPEEDOMETER ACCURACY FOR CONFORMITY OF PRODUCTION

ANNEX 3

1. TEST CONDITIONS

The test conditions shall be as set out in paragraphs 5.2.1 to 5.2.6 of this Regulation.

2. REQUIREMENTS

The production shall be deemed to conform to this Regulation if the following relationship between the speed
indicated on the display of the speedometer (V1) and the actual speed (V2) is observed:

In the case of vehicles of categories M and N:

0 (cid:1) ðV1 (cid:2) V2Þ (cid:1) 0,1 V2 þ 6 km=h;

In the case of vehicles of categories L3, L4 and L5:
0 (cid:1) ðV1 (cid:2) V2Þ (cid:1) 0,1 V2 þ 8 km=h;

In the case of vehicles of categories L1 and L2:
0 (cid:1) ðV1 (cid:2) V2Þ (cid:1) 0,1 V2 þ 4 km=h.