CELEX: 51978PC0728
Language: en
Date: 1978-12-22
Title: PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DIRECTIVE ON THE WEIGHTS AND CERTAIN OTHER CHARACTERISTICS ( NOT INCLUDING DIMENSIONS ) OF ROAD VEHICLES USED FOR THE CARRIAGE OF GOODS

18. 1. 79                         Official Journal of the European Communities                               N o C 16/3
                                                          II
                                                  (Preparatory Acts)
                                             COMMISSION
              Proposal for a Council Directive on the weights and certain other characteristics (not
                        including dimensions) of road vehicles used for the carriage of goods
                        (Submitted by the Commission    to the Council on 30 December 1978)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,                      vehicles from certain routes or structures or restrict-
                                                              ing the carriage of dangerous goods to certain
 Having regard to the Treaty establishing the                 vehicles,
 European Economic Community, and in particular
 Article 75 thereof,
                                                              HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
                                                                                        Article 1
 Having regard to the opinion of the European
                                                              This Directive applies to the weights and certain
 Parliament,
                                                              other characteristics (not including dimensions) of the
                                                               goods vehicles and trailers referred to in Annex I.
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and              These vehicles are intended to be used on the road
 Social Committee,                                            and have at least four wheels, a maximum laden
                                                              weight exceeding 3-5 tonnes and a maximum design
                                                              speed exceeding 25 km/h.
Whereas it is necessary, in the framework of the
common transport policy, to establish maximum
standards for the weights and other characteristics of                                  Article 2
certain vehicles which will permit these vehicles to be
used in every Member State;                                    In this Directive:
                                                              — 'combined vehicle' means either a rigid motor
Whereas the establishment of maximum limits for                    vehicle coupled to a drawbar trailer or an
vehicle weight will also permit the development of a               articulated vehicle consisting of a tractive unit
more homogeneous market for heavy motor vehicles;                  coupled to a semi-trailer,
Whereas it is desirable that motor vehicles which are         — 'motor vehicle' means either a rigid motor vehicle
to be permitted free circulation in the Community                  or a tractive unit for an articulated vehicle.
should conform to the latest Community standards
on noise, emissions, steering and braking;                                              Article 3
Whereas the requirements of safety or the protection          Member States shall not refuse or prohibit the sale,
of the infrastructure or the environment may necessi-         the registration, the putting into circulation or the use
tate Member States' excluding the heavier motor               of vehicles on grounds relating to the characteristics
 ---pagebreak--- N o C 16/4                             Official Journal of the European Communities                                 18. 1. 79
dealt with in this Directive and the Annexes hereto if                  than 20 % of the total laden weight of the
the vehicles conform with the requirements specified                    vehicle or combined vehicle;
herein.
                                                                  (e) the distance between the centres of the rear axle
                                                                         of the motor vehicle and the front axle of any
                                                                        trailer or semi-trailer is not less than three
                          Article 4                                      metres.
1.      T o conform with this Directive:                          2.      After consulting the Commission, a Member
                                                                  State may fix the ratio specified in paragraph 1 (d) at
 (a) a vehicle must be equipped in an easily accessible           up to 25 % for vehicles used on its territory.
      position with a plate on which are entered:
         (i) the unladen weight of the vehicle,                                             Article 6
        (ii) the maximum      authorized    weight   of  the
             vehicle,                                             Member States shall take the necessary measures to
                                                                  ensure that any vehicle fitted with a plate as specified
      (iii) the maximum weight for each axle of the               in Article 4 conforms with the technical provisions of
             vehicle,                                             the Community Directives on type approval listed in
                                                                  Annex III.
       (iv) a symbol identifying the vehicle as being in
              conformity with this Directive,
        (v) for motor vehicles only, the maximum train                                      Article 7
             weight if greater than the maximum
              authorized weight in (ii) above;                    The Member States may, after consulting the
                                                                  Commission on the general nature of the measures
 (b) the maximum authorized weight, the maximum                   proposed:
      weight for each axle and the maximum train                  (a) derogate from the provisions of Article 3 in the
      weight entered on the plate shall not exceed the                   case of vehicles used for the carriage of
      limits specified in Annexes I and II.                              dangerous goods;
                                                                  (b) exclude vehicles conforming to this Directive
 2.      On the basis of a proposal from the
                                                                         from certain routes or structures for reasons of
 Commission, the Council shall, before 1 January
                                                                         safety or of protection of the infrastructure or the
 1980, adopt measures on the form of the plate
                                                                         environment. Such measures shall apply to all
 referred to in this Article.
                                                                         vehicles with the same weight or other
                                                                         characteristics.
                          Article 5
                                                                                            Article 8
 1.      A vehicle when in use shall be regarded as
 conforming with this Directive if:                               1.       The Member States shall, after consulting the
                                                                  Commission, adopt the measures necessary to ensure
  (a) the total laden weight of the vehicle does not              compliance with this Directive within 18 months
       exceed the maximum authorized weight entered               f r o m its notification and shall forthwith inform the
       on the plate;                                              Commission thereof.
 (b) the total laden weight of a combined vehicle does
      not exceed the limits specified in Annex I;                 2.       They shall apply such measures from 1 January
                                                                  1983.
  (c) no axle weight exceeds the limit entered on the
      plate by more than 5 % ;                                                              Article 9
 (d) the weight borne by the driving axle or driving
      axles of a vehicle or combined vehicle is not less          This Directive is addressed to the Member States.
 ---pagebreak--- 18. 1. 79                         Official Journal of the European Communities                             N o C 16/5
                                                      ANNEX    I
                      MAXIMUM WEIGHTS OF VEHICLES AND COMBINED VEHICLES
          1.   Maximum authorized weight of a vehicle
          1.1. Rigid motor vehicles
               — vehicle with three axles                                                       24 tonnes,
               — vehicles with four axles (two steered axles)                                   30 tonnes.
          1.2. Vehicles forming part of a combined vehicle
               — motor vehicle with two axles                                                   17 tonnes,
               — motor vehicle with three axles                                                 24 tonnes,
               — trailer with two axles                                                         18 tonnes,
               — trailer with three axles                                                       24 tonnes,
               — semi-trailer (axle loading):
               — with two axles                                                                 18 tonnes,
               — with three axles                                                               24 tonnes.
          1.3. Combined vehicles (articulated vehicles and road trains)
               — motor vehicle with two axles + trailer or semi-trailer:
               — with two axles                                                                 35 tonnes,
               — with three axles                                                               40 tonnes,
               — motor vehicle with three axles + trailer or semi-trailer:
               — with two axles                                                                 42 tonnes,
               — with three axles                                                               44 tonnes.
          2.   Maximum train weight of a motor vehicle
               The maximum train weight entered on the plate of a motor vehicle designed to tow a trailer
               or a semi-trailer shall be determined by the competent authorities of the Member States
               after consulting the manufacturer and taking account of all appropriate factors including
               braking, stability and available power. The maximum train weight in tonnes shall not exceed
               one fifth of the available power of the engine measured in kilowatts.
          3.   Maximum weight technically admissible
               Where the vehicle is not constructed to carry the maximum authorized weight specified in
               Section 1 of this Annex, or where the axle spacing could cause overloading of bridges, the
               maximum authorized weight shown on the plate specified in Article 4 shall be reduced
               accordingly.
 ---pagebreak--- N o C 16/6                          Official Journal of the European Communities                              18. 1. 79
                                                        ANNEX     II
                               AXLE SPACINGS AND MAXIMUM WEIGHT PER AXLE
           1. The maximum axle weight of the sole driving axle of a combined vehicle shall not exceed
              11 tonnes.
           2. The maximum axle weight of any other single axle shall not exceed 10 tonnes.
           3. Where the axle spacing is less than two metres, the sum of the maximum axle weights of a
              tandem axle shall not exceed 18 tonnes.
           4. The sum of the axle weights of a tri-axle shall not exceed 24 tonnes.
           5. The maximum axle spacing of a tri-axle shall not exceed 2.8 metres.
           6. The competent authorities in the Member States may fix lower limits for the axle weights of
              steered axles or those fitted with single or super-single tyres, or for other axles where the
              vehicle is unsuitable for the full axle weight to be permitted.
                                                        ANNEX     III
           Community type-approval legislation to which vehicles authorized by this Directive, whether new
                                            or already in service, shall conform
           1. NOISE
              The permissible sound level and the exhaust system motor vehicles:
                               Directive                                         Reference
                 Council Directive 70/157/EEC                         OJ No L 42, 23. 2. 1970, p. 16
                 Commission Directive 73/350/EEC                      OJ No L 321, 22. 11. 1973, p. 33
                 Council Directive 77/212/EEC                         OJ No L 66, 12. 3. 1977, p. 33
              EMISSIONS
              (a) Measures to be taken against air pollution by gases from positive ignition engines of motor
                  vehicles:
                               Directive                                         Reference
                   Council Directive 70/220/EEC                       OJ No L 76, 6. 4. 1970, p. 23
                   Council Directive 74/290/EEC                       OJ No L 159, 15. 6. 1974, p. 61
                   Commission Directive 77/102/EEC                    OJ No L 32, 3. 2. 1977, p. 32
                   Commission Directive 78/665/EEC                    OJ No L 223, 14. 8. 1978, p. 48
 ---pagebreak--- 18. 1. 79                         Official Journal of the European Communities                          No C 16/7
             (b) Measures to be taken against the emission of pollutants from diesel engines for use in
                 motor vehicles:
                                        Directive                                 Reference
                 Council Directive 72/306/EEC                     OJ N o L 190, 20. 8. 1972, p. 1
                 Corrigendum                                      OJ N o L 215, 6. 8. 1974, p. 20
          3. BRAKING
             Braking devices of certain categories of motor vehicles and their trailers:
                              Directive                                       Reference
                Council Directive 71/320/EEC                      OJ No L 202, 6. 9. 1971, p. 37
                Commission Directive 74/132/EEC                   OJ N o L 74, 19. 3. 1974, p. 7
                Commission Directive 75/524/EEC                   OJ N o L 236, 8. 9. 1975, p. 3
             STEERING
             Steering equipment for motor vehicles and their trailers:
                              Directive                                       Reference
                Council Directi ve 70/311/EEC                     OJ N o L 133, 18. 6. 1970, p. 10