Council Directive 78/316/EEC of 21 December 1977 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the interior fittings of motor vehicles (identification of controls, tell-tales and indicators)
COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
of 21 December 1977
on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the interior fittings of motor vehicles (identification of controls, tell-tales and indicators)
(78/316/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 Parliament ( 1 ),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee ( 2 ),
Whereas the technical requirements which motor vehicles must satisfy pursuant to national laws relate inter alia to the identification of controls, tell-tales and indicators;
Whereas these 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 trailers ( 3 ), as amended by Directive 78/315/EEC ( 4 );
Whereas it is advisable to draft the technical requirements so that they have the same aim as the work being carried out on the subject in the UN Economic Commission for Europe and as certain technical requirements adopted by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO);
Whereas the approximation of national laws relating to motor vehicles entails reciprocal recognition by Member States of the checks carried out by each of them on the basis of the common requirements,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:
Article 1
For the purposes of this Directive, ‘vehicle’ means any motor vehicle intended for use on the road, 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 2
No Member State may refuse to grant EEC type-approval or national type-approval of a vehicle on grounds relating to the identification of controls, telltales and indicators, if these satisfy the requirements laid down in Annexes I to IV.
Article 3
No Member State may refuse or prohibit the sale, registration, entry into service or use of any vehicle on grounds relating to the identification of controls, telltales and indicators if these satisfy the requirements laid down in Annexes I to IV.
Article 4
Any amendments necessary to adapt the requirements of Annexes I to V to technical progress shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 13 of Directive 70/156/EEC.
Article 5
1. Member States shall bring into force the provisions necessary in order to comply with this Directive within 18 months of its notification and shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.
2. Member States shall ensure that the texts of the main provisions of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive are communicated to the Commission.
Article 6
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.
LIST OF ANNEXES
ANNEX I
SCOPE, DEFINITIONS, APPLICATION FOR EEC TYPE-APPROVAL, EEC TYPE-APPROVAL, SPECIFICATIONS
1. SCOPE
This Directive applies to motor vehicles with regard to the identification of manual controls, tell-tales and indicators.
2. DEFINITIONS
2.1. Vehicle type
‘Vehicle type’ means motor vehicles which do not differ in respect of the internal arrangements which may affect the identification of symbols for controls, tell-tales and indicators.
2.2. Control
‘Control’ means that part of a device which enables the driver to bring about a change in the state or functioning of a vehicle.
2.3. Indicator
‘Indicator’ means a device which presents information on the functioning or situation of a system or part of a system, for example a fluid level.
2.4. Tell-tale
‘Tell-tale’ means an optical signal which indicates the actuation of a device, correct or defective functioning or condition, or failure to function.
2.5. Symbol
‘Symbol’ means a diagram identifying a control, a tell-tale or an indicator.
2.6. Information display device
‘Information display device’ means a display device capable of displaying more than one type of information or message.
3. APPLICATION FOR EEC TYPE-APPROVAL
3.1.The application for EEC type-approval pursuant to Article 3 (4) of Directive 70/156/EEC of a vehicle type with regard to its identification of controls, tell-tales and indicators shall be submitted by the manufacturer.
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3.2. |
A model for the information document is given in Annex V. |
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3.3. |
A vehicle representative of the type to be approved or such part or parts of the vehicle as are considered to be necessary for carrying out the checks and tests prescribed by this Directive must be submitted to the technical service responsible for conducting the type-approval tests. |
4. GRANTING OF EEC TYPE-APPROVAL
4.1. If the relevant requirements are satisfied, EEC type-approval pursuant to Article 4 (3) of Directive 70/156/EEC shall be granted.
4.2. A model for the EEC type-approval certificate is given in Annex VI.
4.3. 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.
5. SPECIFICATIONS
5.1. General specifications
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5.1.1. |
Where fitted, the controls, tell-tales and indicators listed in Annex II must be identified by symbols. The symbols must be in conformity with those indicated in the said Annex. |
If symbols are used for identifying the controls, tell-tales and indicators listed in Annex III, such symbols must be in conformity with those indicated in the said Annex.
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5.1.3. |
Symbols other than those shown in Annexes II and III may be used to identify controls, telltales and indicators, other than those listed in this Directive, provided that there is no danger of confusion with those shown in the said Annexes. |
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5.1.4. |
‘Conformity’ means having proportional dimensional characteristics. |
An information display device may be used to display messages from any source meeting the following requirements:
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5.1.5.1. |
the brake, main-beam and direction-indicator tell-tales shall not appear in the same information display device; |
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5.1.5.2. |
the tell-tales and indicators in an information display device must provide relevant information whenever the situation that causes them to operate arises; |
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5.1.5.3. |
if two or more messages are given, they must either be repeated automatically in sequence or be indicated in such a manner as to be visible to and identifiable by the driver; |
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5.1.5.4. |
the requirements of Annex III regarding colour do not apply to tell-tales and indicators appearing in an information display device. |
5.2. Characteristics of the symbols
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5.2.1. |
The symbols prescribed in 5.1.1 shall be identifiable, from his seat, by a driver with normal eyesight. |
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5.2.2. |
The symbols prescribed in 5.1.1 and 5.1.2 must be on or close to the controls, tell-tales and indicators. |
he symbols must stand out clearly against the background.
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5.2.4. |
The colours used for tell-tales must be those prescribed in Annexes II and III. |
Where a control, an indicator or a tell-tale are combined, a common symbol may be used for such a combination.
6. AMENDMENTS TO APPROVALS
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6.1. |
In the case of amendments to approvals granted pursuant to this Directive, the provisions of Article 5 of Directive 70/156/EEC shall apply. |
7. CONFORMITY OF PRODUCTION
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7.1. |
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. |
ANNEX II
CONTROLS, TELL-TALES AND INDICATORS FOR WHICH, WHEN FITTED, IDENTIFICATION IS MANDATORY, AND SYMBOLS TO BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE
(Symbols are in accordance with International Standard ISO 2575, fourth edition — 1982-11-15.)
ANNEX III
CONTROLS, TELL-TALES AND INDICATORS FOR WHICH, WHEN FITTED, IDENTIFICATION IS OPTIONAL, AND SYMBOLS WHICH MUST BE USED IF THEY ARE TO BE IDENTIFIED
(Symbols are in accordance with International Standard ISO 2575, fourth edition 1982-11-15).
ANNEX IV
CONSTRUCTION OF THE BASIC PATTERN FOR THE SYMBOLS SHOWN IN ANNEXES II AND III
Figure 1
Basic pattern
The basic pattern comprises:
1. a basic square of side 50 mm; this dimension is equal to the nominal dimension, ‘a’, of the basic pattern;
2. a basic circle of 56 mm diameter having approximately the same area as the basic square (1);
3. a second circle of 50 mm diameter, being the inscribed circle of the basic square (1);
4. a second square whose corners touch the basic circle (2) and whose sides are parallel to those of the basic square (1);
5 and 6. two rectangles having the same area as the basic square (1); they are mutually perpendicular, each being drawn to cross opposite sides of the basic square symmetrically;
7. a third square whose sides pass through the points of intersection of the basic square (1) and the basic circle (2) and are at an angle of 45°, giving the largest horizontal and vertical dimensions of the basic pattern;
8. an irregular octagon, formed by lines at an angle of 30° to the sides of the square (7).
The basic pattern is superimposed on a 12·5 mm grid which coincides with the basic square (1).
ANNEX V
ANNEX VI
Appendix
( 1 ) OJ No C 118, 16. 5. 1977, p. 33.
( 2 ) OJ No C 114, 11. 5. 1977, p. 10.
( 3 ) OJ No L 42, 23. 2. 1970, p. 1.