CELEX: 51987PC0407
Language: en
Date: 1987-09-18
Title: Proposal for a COUNCIL DIRECTIVE on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the tread depth of tyres of certain categories of motor vehicles and of their trailers (presented by the Commission)

ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES
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COM (87) 407
Vol. 1987/0217
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 ---pagebreak--- COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                               COM(87 )    407 final
                                                Brussels , 18 September 1987
                                 Proposai for a
                               COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
            on the approximation of the laws of the Member States
         relating to the tread depth of tyres of certain categories
                   of motor vehicles and of their trailers
                        ( presented by the Commission )
 C0M(87 ) 407 final
 ---pagebreak---                             Z
                  EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
GENERAL
This proposal for a Directive falls within the common
transport policy , one of whose aims is to make an
effective contribution to improving traffic conditions for
all means of transport and in particular road vehicles ; in
this context road safety measures are particularly
important .
This draft proposal for a Directive covers the tread
depths of tyres for motorcars , light commercial vehicles
and light trailers . This narrowly focused question is
nevertheless of significant importance for road safety and
is fully in line with the aims and activities of European
Road Safety Year 1986 .
The European Parliament has frequently drawn the
Commission 's attention to several aspects of road safety
and has made particular mention of the need to ensure that
the tread depth of tyres remains adequate throughout the
life of those tyres .
 ---pagebreak--- B.  CONTENT OF THE PROJECT
Nine Member States hâve residual tread depth laws whereby
vehicles of the types concerned in this Directive may not be
driven legally on tyres of which the tread is below a
spécifie depth :
Belgium          1mm across the whole width of the tyre
Denmark          1mm across the whole width of the tyre
France           1mm across the whole width of the tyre
FRGermany        1mm across the whole width of the tyre
Great britain    1mm across 75% of the width of the tyre , and
                 visible tread pattern on the remaining 25%
Ireland          1mm across the whole width of the tyre
Italy            1mm across the whole width of the tyre
Luxembourg       1,6mm across the whole width of the tyre
Netherlands      1mm across the whole width of the tyre .
Other States outside the Community apply the following
values s
Japan          - 1.6mm across the whole width of the tyre
USA            - 1.5mm ( 2 / 32 ") across the whole width of the
                 tyre .
 ---pagebreak---                                    ч
There are several reasons for stipulating in the Directive a
minimum of 1.6mm across the whole width of the tyre .
      - Recent studies in Germany , UK and elsewhere suggest
that the braking preformance of worn tyres deteriorates
sharply in wet road conditions and thus that a tyre which it
is still legal to use in those countries ( 1mm minimum depth
requirement ) will be less safe in wet conditions whilst still
safe in dry .
      - Tread wear indicators are normally set by tyre
manufacturers at 1.6mm depth . A Directive setting the minimum
depth at this level would thus complement current
manufacturing practice , and make it easier for drivers to
check their tyres for illegal tread depth .
      - Both the USA and Japan have a minimum depth of
1.5-1 . 6mm ( USA uses inches ). The proposal 1.6mm minimum in
the Directive would bring Member States into line with the
other two main economic blocks , where studies have shown that
1.6mm ( i . 2 / 32 ") is the minimum depth required for safe
operating in all conditions .
      - One Member State ( Luxembourg ) already has a minimum
tread depth of 1.6mm . Particularly in view of the studies
mentioned above , it would be undesirable to force the
relaxation of this requirements : rather it would be better
for other Member States to bring their requirements up to
this level .
It must be pointed out , as regards the date of implementation
by the Member States of the measure contained in this draft ,
that the earliest possible date would raise no major
problems , and it could therefore be set at 1 June 1988 .
 ---pagebreak---                   Proposal for a Council Directive
       on the approximation of the laws of the Member States
          relating to the tread depth of tyres of certain
         categories of motor vehicles and of their trailers
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 the Council and the representatives of the govern¬
ments of the Member States , meeting in the Council on
19 December 1984 , adopted a resolution on road safety ( 1 )
inviting the Commission to present proposals in this context;
Whereas the European Parliament adopted on 18 February 1986 a
resolution on the Community 's programme for Road Safety Year
1986 ( 2 ) which included the tread depth of tyres as one of the
common provisions to be implemented as soon as possible ;
Whereas the requirements which tyres for motor vehicles and
their trailers must meet in pursuance of            national laws
relate , Ínter alia , to the tread depth of such tyres, even and
especially while such tyres are in use ;
( 1 ) OJ C 341 , 21.12.1984 , p. 1 .
 ( 2 ) OJ C 68 , 24.3.1986 , p. 35 .
 ---pagebreak---                                      G
Whereas these requirements vary from one Member State to
another and whereas such differences raise serious problems
in respect of driver liability where vehicles are driven on
the territory of other Member States , that is to say within the
Community ;
Whereas harmonization of these requirements will facilitate
the free movement         of vehicles between Member States ;
Whereas    such harmonization is necessary and
fully justified by the aim of guaranteeing road users a
greater degree of safety ; whereas there is an urgent need for the
requirements concerning tyre tread wear indicators , already
proposed in 1977 ( 1 ), also        to    be laid down ;
Whereas the narrowly-focused question of the harmonization of
the tread depth of tyres is nevertheless in line with the
aims and activities of the Community Road Safety Year 1986 ,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE :
                                Article   1
Member States shall take all necessary steps to ensure that
throughout their service life on the road , tyres for category
Mi , Ni , Oi and 02 vehicles , as defined in Annex I to Council
Directive 70 / 156 / EEC ( 1 ) shall have a tread depth of at least 1.6 mm
over their entire tread surface .
 ( 1 ) OJ C 37 , 14.02.1977 , p. 1 .
 ---pagebreak---                           Article 2
After consulting the Commission Member States shall adopt and
publish before 31 December 1987 the laws , regulations anc*
administrative provisions necessary for the implementation of
this Directive from 1 June 1988 .
Member States shall inform the Commission of the texts of the
provisions they adopt to implement this Directive .
                          Article 3
This Directive is addressed to the Member States .
Done at Brussels ,                   For the Council
                                     the President
 ---pagebreak---              FICHE D' IMPACT SUR LA COMPETITIVITE ET L' EMPLOI
  I.    Quelle est la justification principale de la mesure ?
        Le présent projet a pour objet d' augmenter la sécurité
        routière dans les Etats membres .
  II . Caractéristiques des entreprises concernées .
        - Les entreprises qui utilisent les catégories de
           véhicules à moteur et de leurs remorques concernés
           ( voitures automobiles , véhicules utilitaires légers et
           remorques légères )
        - Les entreprises qui sont liées à la fabrication ou à la
           vente des pneus .
  III . Quelles sont les obligations imposées directement aux
        entreprises .
        Pour les véhicules des catégories Ml NI Ol et 02 la
        profondeur des rainures des pneumatiques doit être
        supérieure à 1,6mm sur toute leur bande de roulement et
        pendant toute leur utilisation sur la route .
 IV . Quelles sont les obligations susceptibles d' être imposées
        indirectement aux entreprises via les autorités locales .
        Mise en vigueur de l' obligation décrite sous III .
 V.     Y-a- t - il des mesures spéciales pour les P.M.E. ?
        Non .
 VI . Quel est l' effet prévisible .
       L' exigence d' une profondeur minimum applicable dans tous
       les Etats Membres aura les effets suivants     :
       - Augmentation de la sécurité routière et , par
          conséquent , une réduction des accidents et une
          diminution des coûts .
       - Augmentation des coûts pour les entreprises qui ne
          changent les pneus à l' heure actuelle que lorsque la
          profondeur des rainures est inférieure à 1,6mm .
      - Vente d' une quantité supérieure de pneus , d' où un effet
         positif sur l' emploi et le bénéfice des entreprises
         liées à la fabrication et à la vente des pneus .
VII . Les partenaires sociaux ont -ils été consultés .
      Non .