Council Directive 77/389/EEC of 17 May 1977 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to motor-vehicle towing-devices
Modified by
  • Commission Directive 96/64/ECof 2 October 1996adapting to technical progress Council Directive 77/389/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to motor vehicle towing devices(Text with EEA relevance), 31996L0064, October 11, 1996
  • Regulation (EC) No 661/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Councilof 13 July 2009concerning type-approval requirements for the general safety of motor vehicles, their trailers and systems, components and separate technical units intended therefor(Text with EEA relevance), 32009R0661, July 31, 2009
Corrected by
  • Corrigendum to Council Directive 77/389/EEC of 17 May 1977 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to motor-vehicle towing devices, 31977L0389R(01), February 13, 1998
Council Directiveof 17 May 1977on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to motor-vehicle towing-devices(77/389/EEC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 100 thereof,Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,Having regard to the opinion of the European ParliamentOJ No C 76, 7. 4. 1975, p. 37.,Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social CommitteeOJ No C 248, 29. 10. 1975, p. 24.,Whereas the technical requirements which motor vehicles must satisfy pursuant to national laws relate inter alia to their towing-devices;Whereas those requirements differ from one Member State to another; whereas it is therefore necessary that all Member States adopt the same requirements either in addition to or in place of their existing rules, in order, in particular, to allow the EEC type-approval procedure, which was the subject of Council Directive 70/156/EEC of 6 February 1970 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the type-approval of motor vehicles and their trailersOJ No L 42, 23. 2. 1970, p. 1., to be introduced in respect of each type of vehicle;Whereas approximation of the national laws relating to motor vehicles entails mutual recognition by the Member States of the checks carried out by each of them on the basis of the common requirements,HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:
Article 1For the purposes of this Directive, "vehicle" means any motor vehicle intended for use on the road, with or without bodywork, having at least four wheels and a maximum design speed exceeding 25 km/h, with the exception of vehicles which run on rails and of agricultural and forestry tractors and all mobile machinery.
Article 2No Member State may refuse to grant EEC type-approval or national type-approval of a vehicle on grounds relating to their towing-devices, if these satisfy the requirements set out in the Annex II.
Article 3No Member State may refuse registration or prohibit the sale, entry into service or use of a vehicle on grounds relating to their towing-devices if these satisfy the requirements set out in the Annex II to this Directive.
Article 4Any amendments necessary to adjust the requirements of the Annexes to take account of technical progress shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 13 of Council Directive 70/156/EEC.
Article 51.Member States shall put into force the provisions necessary to comply with this Directive within 18 months of its notification and shall immediately inform the Commission thereof.2.Member States shall ensure that the texts of legislative provisions which they adopt in the area governed by this Directive are communicated to the Commission.
Article 6This Directive is addressed to the Member States.
nullLIST OF ANNEXES
Annex I:Administrative provisions for type-approval
Appendix 1: Information document
Appendix 2: Type-approval certificate
Annex II:Towing-devices
ANNEX IADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS FOR TYPE-APPROVAL1.APPLICATION FOR EC TYPE-APPROVAL OF A VEHICLE TYPE1.1.The application for EC type-approval pursuant to Article 3 (4) of Directive 70/156/EEC of a vehicle type with regard to its towing devices shall be submitted by the manufacturer.1.2.A model for the information document is given in Appendix 1.1.3.The following must be submitted to the technical service responsible for conducting the type-approval tests:1.3.1.a vehicle representative of the type to be approved.2.GRANTING OF EC TYPE-APPROVAL OF A VEHICLE TYPE2.1.If the relevant requirements are satisfied, EC type-approval pursuant to Article 4 (3) and, if applicable, 4 (4) of Directive 70/156/EEC shall be granted.2.2.A model for the EC type-approval certificate is given in Appendix 2.2.3.An approval number in accordance with Annex VII to Directive 70/156/EEC shall be assigned to each type of vehicle approved. The same Member State shall not assign the same number to another type of vehicle.3.MODIFICATIONS OF THE TYPE AND AMENDMENTS TO APPROVALS3.1.In the case of modifications of the type approved pursuant to this Directive, the provisions of Article 5 of Directive 70/156/EEC shall apply.4.CONFORMITY OF PRODUCTION4.1.Measures to ensure the conformity of production shall be taken in accordance with the provisions laid down in Article 10 of Directive 70/156/EEC.ANNEXIITOWING-DEVICES1.Number1.1.All motor vehicles must have a special towing-device fitted at the front, to which a connecting part, such as a towing-bar or tow-rope, may be fitted.1.2.Vehicles in category M1 — as defined in Annex II A to Directive 70/156/EEC — except for those vehicles unsuitable for towing loads, must also be fitted with a towing-device at the rear.2.Stability2.1.Each special towing-device fitted to the vehicle must be able to withstand a tractive and compressive static force of at least half the authorized total weight of the vehicle, only without the towed load to which it is fitted.