CELEX: 51995PC0193
Language: en
Date: 1995-06-26
Title: Amended Proposal for a COUNCIL DIRECTIVE LAYING DOWN MAXIMUM AUTHORISED WEIGHTS AND DIMENSIONS FOR ROAD VEHICLES OVER 3.5. TONNES CIRCULATING WITHIN THE COMMUNITY

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                            Brussels, 26.06.1995
                                            COM(95) 193 final - SYN 486
                          Amended Proposal for a
                          COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
LAYING DOWN MAXIMUM AUTHORISED WEIGHTS AND DIMENSIONS
             FOR ROAD VEHICLES OVER 3.5. TONNES
             CIRCULATING WITHIN THE COMMUNITY
        (presented by the Commission pursuant to Article 189 a (2)
                            of the EC Treaty)
 ---pagebreak---  ---pagebreak---                           EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
A. On 15 December 1993, the Commission sent to the Council a proposal for a Directive
   laying down the maximum authorised weights and dimensions for road vehicles over 3.5
   tonnes circulating within the Community (COM(93)679 final - SYN 4861).
   On 1 June 19942, the Economic and Social Committee adopted its opinion which was to
   reject the proposal.
   On 15 November 19943, the European Parliament approved the proposal at its first
   reading.
   The Commission accepts five of the sixteen amendments.
   The Commission could not accept the other amendments proposed by the Parliament for
   the following reasons :
   The amendment to the title is not in line with the legal situation.
   Amendments to Article 2 and Annex 1, point 1.4 change accepted definitions
   Amendments to Point 2 of Annex 1 significantly curtail the practical benefits of the
   proposal.
B. The Commission therefore modifies its proposal as follows :
   Amendment n'l : adds a new recital declaring environmental and road safety concerns.
   Amendments n*2 and n°4 :        simplifies and broadens the scope of what can be
                                   defined as an insulated vehicle.
   Amendments n'3 and n'5 :        allow a new, longer, maximum length for road trains
                                   but only to permit simpler coupling mechanisms
    1
       OJ No C 38 of 8.2.1994, p. 3
    2
       OJ N° C 295 of 22.10.1994, p. 72
    3
       OJN° C 341 of 5.12.1994, p.
                                                L
 ---pagebreak---                                 Amended proposal for a
                                COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
   LAYING DOWN MAXIMUM AUTHORISED WEIGHTS AND DIMENSIONS
                     FOR ROAD VEHICLES OVER 3.5. TONNES
                     CIRCULATING WITHIN THE COMMUNITY
The Proposal from the Commission forming the subject of document COM(93)679 final
SYN4861 is hereby amended as follows :
 Initial text proposed by the Commission     Amended text
                                    (Amendment 1)
                                   Recital 4a (new)
                                             Whereas the legislation shall not have an
                                             adverse impact on developments which
                                             protect the environment and promote road
                                             safety;
        OJ N° C 38 of 8.2.94, p.3
                                                3
 ---pagebreak--- Initial text proposed by the Commission          Amended text
                                      (Amendment 2)
                                   Article 2, fifth indent
     'thick-walled refrigerated vehicle'         'conditioned vehicle' shall mean any
     shall mean any vehicle whose fixed or       vehicle whose fixed or movable
     movable superstructures are specially       superstructures are specially equipped for
     equipped for the carriage of goods at       the carriage of goods at controlled
     controlled temperatures in accordance       temperatures and whose side walls,
     with classes B. C. E and F of the           inclusive of insulation, are on average
     Agreement of lSeptember 1970 on             each at least 45 millimetres thick;
     the International Carriage of
     Perishable Foodstuffs and on the
     Special Equipment to be used for
     Carriage (ATP) and whose side walls,
     inclusive of insulation, are each at
     least 45 millimetres thick;
Initial text proposed by the Commission          Amended text
                                      (Amendment 3)
                                    Annex I, Point 1.1.
1.1.     Maximum length :                         1.1.   Maximum length :
         - motor vehicle        12.00 m                  - motor vehicle        12.00 m
         - trailer              12.00 m                  - trailer              12.00 m
         - articulated vehicle 16.50 m                   - articulated vehicle 16.50 m
         - road train           18.35 m                  - road train           18.75 m
         - articulated bus      18.00 m                  - articulated bus      18.00 m
                                                   H-
 ---pagebreak---  Initial text proposed by the Commission          Amended text
                                          (Amendment 4)
                                       Annex I, Point 1.2.
 1.2.     Maximum width :                         1.2.   Maximum width :
          (a)     all vehicles         2.55m             (a)     all vehicles           2.55m
          (b)     refrigerated super                     (b)     superstructures of
                  structures of thick-                           conditioned vehicles 2.60m
                  walled refrigerated
                  vehicles            2.60m
 Initial text proposed by the Commission          Amended text
                                         (Amendment 5)
                                        Annex I, Point 1.8
 1.8      Maximum distance measured               1.8    Maximum distance measured
          parallel to the longitudinal axis of           parallel to the longitudinal axis of
          the road train from the foremost               the road train from the foremost
          external point of the loading area             external point of the loading area
          behind the cabin to the rearmost               behind the cabin to the rearmost
          external point of the trailer of the           external point of the trailer of the
          combination                                    combination
                                 16.00m                                         16.40m
                                     Remainder unchanged
Done at Brussels                                             For the Council
 ---pagebreak---  ---pagebreak---                                                                   ISSN 0254-1475
                                                            COM(95) 193 final
                                              DOCUMENTS
EN                                                                            07
                                     Catalogue number : CB-C0-95-219-EN-C
                                                             ISBN 92-77-89033-9
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities
L-2985 Luxembourg