CELEX: 51988PC0286
Language: en
Date: 1988-05-20
Title: PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DIRECTIVE amending Directive 85/3/EEC on the weights, dimensions and certain other technical characteristics of certain road vehicles (Submitted by the Commission)

ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES
DE LA COMMISSION
COLLECTION RELIEE DES
DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM (88) 286
Vol. 1988/0088
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COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                              COM ( 88 ) 286 final
                                              Brussels , 20  May 1988
                                   PROPOSAL
                        FOR A COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
                     amending Directive 85 / 3 / EEC
            on the weights , dimensions and certain other
         technical characteristics of certain road vehicles
                     ( Submitted by the Commission )
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 ---pagebreak---                           EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM          CPVVA Z
GENERAL COMMENTS
1 . Directive R5 / 3 / EEC ( 1 ) as amended by 86 / 360 / EEC ( 2 ) lays
     down maximum authorized dimensions of all vehicles
     intended for the transport of goods above 3,5 tonnes and
     maximum authorized vehicle weights and axle weights of
     five and six axle combined vehicles and trailers forming
     part of combined vehicles .
2 . Directive 85 / 3 / EEC was adopted on the basis of Commission
     proposals of 1971 ( 3 ), 1979 ( 4 ) and 1981 ( 5 ).
     These proposals still cover the maximum authorized weights
     and dimensions of all other current types of vehicles with
     the exception of the maximum authorized weight of the two
     axle rigid vehicle .
3 . In order to enable the Council to adopt a complete package
     of measures on the still outstanding issues of weights and
     dimensions this additional proposal of the Commission ,
     covering the weight of two axle vehicles , is needed .
CONTENTS OF THE PROPOSAL
4 . The maximum authorized vehicle weight for two axle rigid
     vehicles should be 18 tonnes as from 1 January 1990 . This
     value is a compromise taking into account the actual
     limits in Member States for their domestic transport .
5 . The maximum authorized drive axle weight for two axle
     rigid vehicles should be 11,5 tonnes as from
     1 January 1992 . This is in line with the provisions
     already adopted for drive axle weights of combined
     vehicles .
( 1 ) O. J. No . L    2 , 3.01.1985 , p. 14
                                          14 .
( 2 ) O. J. No . L 2177 , 5.08.1986 , p.
                                      P * 19 ..
( 3 ) C0M ( 71 ) 654 final of 17.06.1971 .
( 4 ) COM ( 78 ) 728 final of 4.01.1979 .
( 5 ) COM ( 81 ) 510 final of 11.09.1981 .
                                                                         I
 ---pagebreak---                                  PROPOSAL
                          FOR A COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
                     amending Directive 85 / 3 / EEC
         on the weights , dimensions and certain other
     technical characteristics of certain road vehicles
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 Directive 85 / 3 / EEC ( 1 ) as amended by Directive
86 / 360 / EEC ( 2 ) lays down maximum authorized dimensions of
all vehicles intended for the transport of goods above
3,5 tonnes and maximum authorized vehicle weights and axle
weights only of five or six axle combined vehicles and
trailers forming part of combined vehicles ,
Whereas the maximum authorized vehicle weight and drive axle
weight of two axle rigid vehicles should be fixed as well ,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE         :
( 1 ) OJ No . L      2 , 3.01.1985 , P- 14 .
( 2 ) OJ No . L 217 , 5.08.1986 ,    P- 19 .
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                                         Article 1
          Council Directive 85 / 3 / EEC is hereby amended as follows :
    i
   i
           1 ) Article 7 shall be replaced by the following s
  I
                " Article 7
               After consulting the Commission , Member States shall take
               the measures necessary to comply with this Directives
                    as from 1 July 1986 as regards application of all
                    provisions other than Article 4 and Annex II , as well
                    as point 2.3 and point 3.4 of Annex I ;
                    as from 1 January 1990 as regards the application of
                    Article 4 , point 2.3 of Annex I --and- Annex II ;
                    as from 1 January 1992 as regards the application of
                    point 3.4 of Annex I ;
               Member States shall inform the Commission of the measures
               they take to implement this Directive .";
  I
      »
          2 ) The following point shall be inserted in Annex Is
    I          " 2.3 . Two axle rigid vehicles     18 tonnes ".
    t
          3 ) 3.4 of Annex I shall be replaced by the followings
        i
               " 3.4 Driving axle of vehicles referred to in point 2.2
                   and 2.3                           11,5 tonnes ".
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                          Article 2
This Directive is addressed to the Member States .
Done at Brussels ,               For the Council
                                 the President
 ---pagebreak---            COMPETITIVENESS AND EMPLOYMENT IMPACT STATEMENT
  I. What is the main reason for introducing the measure ?
      This proposal concerning the maximum authorized weight of
      two axle vehicles is a missing element of a total package
      of proposals on weights and dimensions of current
      commercial vehicles which are either regulated or still on
      the table of the Council in earlier proposals of the
      Commission .
      At present , the maximum permitted weight for two axle
      vehicles in the Member States varies from 16,5 to
      19 tonnes .
      In fact , this means that free circulation of these
      vehicles all over the Community is only guaranteed if such
      a vehicle is not heavier than the lowest permitted level
      ( 16,5 tonnes ) .
      The effect of setting the maximum authorized weight for
      international transport on 18 tonnes in Community
      legislation will be that this minimum level rises and
      standards for industry will be further harmonized . Member
      States are allowed to continue operating 19 tonnes
      vehicles on their own territory .
 II . Features of the business in question
      All enterprises which use these vehicles for transfrontier
      operations and vehicle manufacturers .
III . What obligations does this measure improve directly on
      businesses ?
      Two axle vehicles used in international traffic should not
      exceed the maximum authorized weights as fixed by this
      proposal .
 IV . What indirect obligations are national , regional or local
      authorities likely to impose on business ?
      Implementation of the obligations as described under III .
  V. Are there any special provisions in respect of SME 's ?
      None .
 VI . What is the likely effect on :
      a ) The competitiveness of business
          Positive
      b ) EmjDloyment
          Positive
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VII . Have the relevant representative organisations been
      consulted ?
      Consultations have taken place at the drafting of earlier
      Commission proposals ( 1971 and 1978 ) on this subject .
      Recent informal consultations have confirmed that the
      industry is in favour of hamonisation of the maximum
      authorized vehicle weight in international traffic .