Commission Directive 2001/31/EC of 8 May 2001 adapting to technical progress Council Directive 70/387/EEC relating to the doors of motor vehicles and their trailers (Text with EEA relevance)

Commission Directive 2001/31/EC
of 8 May 2001
adapting to technical progress Council Directive 70/387/EEC relating to the doors of motor vehicles and their trailers
(Text with EEA relevance)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Directive 70/156/EEC of 6 February 1970 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to type-approval of motor vehicles and their trailers(1), as last amended by Directive 2000/40/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council(2), and in particular Article 13(2) thereof,
Having regard to Council Directive 70/387/EEC of 27 July 1970 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the doors of motor vehicle and their trailers(3), as last amended by Commission Directive 98/90/EC(4), and in particular Article 3 thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Directive 70/387/EEC is one of the separate Directives of the EC type-approval procedure established by Directive 70/156/EEC. Consequently, the provisions laid down in Directive 70/156/EEC relating to vehicle systems, components and separate technical units apply to this Directive.
(2) Directive 98/90/EC has introduced design requirements for the steps and handholds of cabs in order to improve the safety of persons entering and leaving the driver's compartment of certain heavy goods vehicles.
(3) Certain cab designs already on the market cannot comply with the specific requirements introduced by Directive 98/90/EC, although their level of safety is considered equivalent. It is therefore necessary to further refine the technical requirements in order to allow such cab designs.
(4) The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee for the adaptation to technical progress established by Directive 70/156/EEC,