Legal provisions of COM(2003)586 - Use of frontal protection systems on motor vehicles

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dossier COM(2003)586 - Use of frontal protection systems on motor vehicles.
document COM(2003)586 EN
date October 26, 2005


Article 1

Subject matter

The purpose of this Directive is to improve pedestrian and vehicle safety through passive measures. It lays down technical requirements for the type-approval of motor vehicles as regards frontal protection systems supplied as original equipment fitted to vehicles or as separate technical units.

Article 2

Definitions

For the purposes of this Directive the following definitions and the definitions in Annex I, paragraph 1, shall apply:

1.‘vehicle’ means any motor vehicle of class M1 as defined in Article 2 of Directive 70/156/EEC and in Annex II thereto, of a total permissible mass not exceeding 3,5 tonnes and any motor vehicle of class N1 as defined in Article 2 of Directive 70/156/EEC and in Annex II thereto;

2.‘separate technical unit’ means any separate technical unit within the meaning of Article 2 of Directive 70/156/EEC and intended for installation and use on one or more types of vehicles.

Article 3

Type-approval provisions

1. With effect from 25 August 2006, in respect of a new type of vehicle fitted with a frontal protection system which complies with the requirements laid down in Annex I and Annex II, Member States shall not, on grounds relating to frontal protection systems:

(a)refuse to grant EC type-approval or national type-approval;

(b)prohibit registration, sale or entry into service.

2. With effect from 25 August 2006, in respect of a new type of frontal protection system which is made available as a separate technical unit and which complies with the requirements laid down in Annex I and Annex II, Member States shall not:

(a)refuse to grant EC type-approval or national type-approval;

(b)prohibit sale or entry into service.

3. With effect from 25 November 2006, in respect of a new type of vehicle fitted with a frontal protection system, or a new type of frontal protection system supplied as a separate technical unit, which does not comply with the requirements laid down in Annex I and Annex II, Member States shall refuse to grant EC type-approval or national type-approval.

4. With effect from 25 May 2007, in respect of vehicles which do not comply with the requirements laid down in Annex I and Annex II, Member States shall, on grounds relating to frontal protection systems:

(a)consider certificates of conformity which accompany new vehicles in accordance with Directive 70/156/EEC to be no longer valid for the purposes of Article 7(1) of that Directive;

(b)prohibit the registration, sale or entry into service of new vehicles which are not accompanied by a certificate of conformity in accordance with Directive 70/156/EEC.

5. With effect from 25 May 2007, the requirements under Annex I and Annex II relating to frontal protection systems made available as separate technical units, shall apply for the purposes of Article 7(2) of Directive 70/156/EEC.

Article 4

Implementation measures and amendments

1. Detailed technical requirements for the test provisions laid down in paragraph 3 of Annex I shall be adopted by the Commission in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 13(3) of Directive 70/156/EEC.

2. Amendments necessary for adapting this Directive shall be adopted by the Commission, in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 13(3) of Directive 70/156/EEC.

Article 5

Review

Not later than 25 August 2010, in the light of technical progress and experience, the Commission shall review the technical provisions of this Directive and, in particular, the conditions for requiring the Upper Legform to Frontal Protection System test, the inclusion of an Adult Headform to Frontal Protection System test and the specification of a Child Headform to Frontal Protection System test. The results of this review will be the subject of a report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council.

If, as a result of this review, it is considered appropriate to adapt the technical provisions of this Directive, such adaptation shall be carried out in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 13(3) of Directive 70/156/EEC.

Article 6

Amendments to Directive 70/156/EEC

Annexes I, III, IV and XI to Directive 70/156/EEC are hereby amended in accordance with Annex III to this Directive.

Article 7

Transposition

1. Member States shall adopt and publish, by 25 August 2006 at the latest, the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive. They shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.

They shall apply those provisions from 25 August 2006.

When Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.

2. Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive.

Article 8

Separate technical units

This Directive shall not affect the Member States' competence to prohibit or to restrict the use of frontal protection systems placed on the market as separate technical units before the entry into force of this Directive.

Article 9

Entry into force

This Directive shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Article 10

Addressees

This Directive is addressed to the Member States.