CELEX: 51988PC0287
Language: en
Date: 1988-05-31
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) 287
Vol. 1988/0088
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 ---pagebreak--- COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                                         СОМ ( 88 ) 287 final
                                                         Brussels , 31  May 1988
                                      PROPOSAT ,
                        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---                            EVPLANATORY MEMORANDUM     CetT-
GENERAL COMMENTE
1 . Directive 85 / 3 / EEC lays down the following maximum
    authorized dimensions for heavy vehicles used in
    international traffic .
    * Maximum length :
       - motor vehicles             12 m
       - trailer                    12 m
       - articulated vehicle        15,5 m
       - road trains                18 m
    * Maximum width ( any vehicle )      : 2,50 m
    * Maximum height ( any vehicle ) s 4 m
    * Swept circle ( 5.30 m = inner radius and 12.50 m = outer
       radius ) in which a motor vehicle should be able to
       turn .
2 . These dimensions relate to external overall dimensions of
    vehicles . Lorry design has sought to increase the loading
    space within these external limits .
    This has led to the development of :
    - shorter driving cabins ( top ) for articulated vehicles
       and road trains in order to gain loading space in
       length ;
    - shorter coupling systems for articulated vehicles and
       road trains in order to gain loading space in length ;
    - smaller wheels of trailers in order to gain loading
       space in height ;
    - thin wall equipment for refrigerated vehicles in order
       to gain loading space in width .
    These technical developments are certainly an improvement
    of the economic use of commercial road vehicles but have
    negative effects on health , safety , comfort and quality
    of transport .
3 . Such vehicles are in line with Community legislation
    ( 85 / 3 / EEC ) but cause concern for reasons of safety and
    working conditions of vehicle drivers .
                                                                 b
 ---pagebreak---                                    2
4 . Community action now will maintain present safety
    standards and remove the temptation for unilateral action
    on the part of some Member States .
5 . Fixing the load space dimensions without adaptation of
    the external limits of 85 / 3 / EEC implicates that a number
    of vehicles which were built according to 85 / 3 / EEC are
    prohibited . Legally it will be difficult to do this
    retrospective so the solution could be to let these
    changes enter into force for all vehicles registered from
    a certain date .
    A problem is then that the lifetime of semi-trailers can
    be very long ( 20 years ) which might create a situation of
    old semi-trailers on the road which are more competitive
    than new types .
    Fixing the load space dimensions with adaptation of the
    external limits of 85 / 3 / EEC implicates an increase of
    these external limits .
6 . As regards articulated vehicles the solution acceptable
    for most Member States would be to
    - fix the length of the semi-trailer :
    - increase the total length of articulated vehicles to
      16,5 m ,
    - prescribe the use of coupling mechanism which meet ISO
      standards .
CONTENUS OF THE PROPOSAL
7 . Annex I of Directive 85 / 3 / EEC will therefore be amended
    on three points .
    - The maximum authorized length of an articulated vehicle
      will be increased from 15,50 m to 16,50 m .
    - The load length of a semi-trailer will be fixed by
      prescribing a maximum distance of 12 m between king pin
      and the rear of a semi-trailer .
    - The coupling mechanism should comply with ISO standard
      No . 1726 .
                                                                 A
 ---pagebreak---                                            3
     The total package means a total length of the
      semi –trailer of about 13,60 m with some additional space
      for special equipment ( e.g. refrigerating unit ) in front
      of the semi-trailer ( see fig . 1 ).
     The dimensions of the cabin are not fixed but incentives
      for the construction of short cabins are taken away since
      this would not result in an increase of loading space .
                                           12000
             Г1600–I
                                                      «J
  r –
 I
 I                  204 (X ISO »
 L _____' M
                                       13600
i
                                 16500
            FIG . 1
  8 . A new Article 4A is inserted in Directive 85 / 3 / EEC which
       will allow the use of existing articulated vehicles , that
       do not comply with the provisions on coupling mechanism
       or distance between kinq pin and rear of the
       semi-trailer , on condition that these vehicles do not
       exceed the " old " maximum authorized length of 15,5 m .
                                                                   U
 ---pagebreak---                                  PROPOSAL
                        FOR A COTJNCIL DIRFCTIVK
                     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 , in order to make combined vehicles more productive ,
manufacturers are proposing a maximum usable volume within the
constraints imposed by Directive 85 / 3 / EEC ( l );
Whereas this increase in the usable volume involves a reduction
in the space reserved for the driver and in the space between
the motor vehicle and the semi-trailer which is occupied by
special coupling devices ;
Whereas there is a conseguent deterioration in the comfort and
safety of the driver 's working area ;
Whereas the current standards may be improved so as to lead to
a better balance between the rational and economic use of
commercial road vehicles and the reguirements of road safety by
making tractor units for semi-trailers more interchangeable
while ensuring that the driver has enough room -
 ( 1 ) O.J. n° L 2 , 3.01.1085 , p.14
                                                                £
 ---pagebreak---                                     2 -
  HAS ADOPTER THIS DIRECTIVE :
                               Article 1
Council Directive 85 / 3 / EEC is hereby amended as follows s
1 ) The following Article 4A shall be inserted :
                              " Article 4A
    Articulated vehicles put into circulation before
    1 July 1989 , which do not comply with the new specifications
    contained in points 1.6 and 4.4 of Annex I to the Directive
    shall be deemed to comply with such specifications for the
    purposes of Article 3(1 ) if they do not exceed the total
    length of 15,5 m .
2 ) 1.1 of Annex I to Directive 85 / 3 / EEC shall be replaced by
the following :
         " 1.1 . Maximum length
           - motor vehicle             12,00 m
           - trailer                   12.00 m
           - articulated vehicle       16,50 m
           - road train                18.00 m "
           -( articulated bus          18,00 m ") (*)
3 ) The following point shall be inserted in Annex I :
         " 1.6 . Maximum distance between the fifth-wheel king pin
and the rear of a semi-trailer
                                  12 m "
 (*) Depending on the adoption of the Commission proposal on
     weights and dimensions of buses .
                                                                   i
 ---pagebreak---                                    3
4 ) The following point 4.4 shall be inserted in Annex 1 :
         " 4.4 . Semi-trailers :
         The semi-trailer must comply with ISO international
standard No 1726 ( 1973 version ) relating to road vehicles
( mechanical couplings between tractor units and
semi-trailers ) . “
                               Article 2
1 . After consulting the Commission , the Member States shall
bring into force the laws , regulations and administrative
provisions necessary to comply with this Directive before
1 July 1989 .
2 . The Member States shall communicate to the Commission the
texts of the main provisions of national law which they adopt
in the field covered by this Directive .
                               A.rticle 3
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 concers the maximum authorized length of
      articulated vehicles and semi-trailers and the application
      of standardized coupling mechanisms for these vehicles .
      This total package is introduced in order to guarantee
      enough space for the cabin within the total lenqth of
      the articulated vehicle and to improve interchangebility
      and safety of semi-trailers .
      The increase of the total length makes it possible to
      accommodate with the existing long semi-trailers which
      were developed in combination with short cabins and at the
      same time to provide extra length for the cabins .
 II . Features of the business in question
      All enterprises which use these vehicles for transfrontier
      operations and vehicle manufacturers .
III . Wbat obligations does this measure improve directly on
      businesses ?
      Articulated vehicles used in international traffic should
      comply with the provisions of 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 compet^tivenes£ of_bu s_i ness^
          Positive
      b ) Employment
          Neutral .
                                                                 4
 ---pagebreak---                                   ?
VII . Have the relevant representative org anisations       been
      consulted ?       ~                     -----–
      The representative organisations
                          urbanisations of
                                         or vehicle
                                              vehicle manufacturers ,
      operators and unions
                         ns have been consulted .. TTheir opinion
                            have been  consulted
      can be considered as
                         as favourable
                            favourable t-n
                                        to t-this
                                              Vi -ie proposal .
 ---pagebreak---                            DRAFT STATEMENT I
Whereas , in respect of road trains , there is a trend towards
increasing the loading volume and thereby reducing the space
reserved for the driver and also the space between the motor
vehicle and the trailer which is taken up by special coupling
devices ;
Whereas , it is now possible by virtue of technical developments
that a road train , which conforms to the maximum authorized
dimensions as laid down by Directive 85 / 3 / EEC , when stationary ,
could , when driven , permanently exceed those dimensions ;
Whereas this situation is not in accordance with the spirit of
Directive 85 / 3 / EEC ;
Whereas , in addition , such developments have a negative effect
on road safety and on infrastructure and should therefore be
discouraged ;
Whereas , for road safety reasons it is not advisable to
continue to adapt Directive 85 / 3 / EEC to take into account all
the existing space saving concepts of road trains ;
The Council takes note that urgent action therefore is required
to stop further developments which have a negative impact on
road safety and drivers comfort .
Bearing in mind that an increase in the total length of the
road train in motion should be limited to a minimum , the
Council asks the Commission to put forward a proposal in these
terms .
Bearing in mind that the maximum length of a road train set
down in Directive 85 / 3 / EEC should apply to the road train when
in motion , the Council invites the Commission to put forward a
proposal in these terms .
 ---pagebreak---                         DRAFT STATEMENT II
Whereas , there are currently developments within the Interna­
tional Organisation for Standardization ( ISO ) to adopt new
standards for sea containers , including a length exceeding 40
feet ;
Whereas , if such standards are adopted it is inevitable that
containers of such dimensions will in the future land at
Community habours and travel on Community roads ;
Whereas , increasing road transport of such containers , even
under the rules of derogation , will activate pressure to adopt
Community legislation allowing such increased dimensions ;
Whereas , given the negative effects on road safety and
Community infrastructure of such traffic , it is desirable to
control , and if possible to stop such developments ;
The Council states that the Commission should coordinate Member
States' positions on this matter and should be represented at
the ISO meetings on standardization in order to safeguard the
existing Community legislation wich may be affected by
decisions on these meetings .
                                                                S!