Council Directive 78/549/EEC of 12 June 1978 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the wheel guards of motor vehicles
Modified by
  • Commission Directive 94/78/ECof 21 December 1994adapting to technical progress Council Directive 78/549/EEC, as regards the wheel guards of motor vehicles, 31994L0078, December 31, 1994
  • 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
Council Directiveof 12 June 1978on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the wheel guards of motor vehicles(78/549/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 118, 16. 5. 1977, p. 29.,Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social CommitteeOJ No C 114, 11. 5. 1977, p. 6.,Whereas the technical requirements which motor vehicles must satisfy pursuant to national laws relate inter alia to the wheel guards of motor vehicles;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 trailersOJ No L 42, 23. 2. 1970, p. 1., as last amended by Directive 78/547/EECSee page 39 of this Official Journal., to be introduced in respect of each type of vehicle;Whereas the approximation of national laws relating to motor vehicles entails the mutual recognition by Member States of the inspections 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 in category M1(as defined in Annex II A to Directive 70/156/EEC) designed for use on the road, having at least four wheels and a maximum design speed exceeding 25 km/h.
Article 2No Member State may refuse to grant EEC type-approval or national type-approval of a vehicle on grounds relating to the wheel guards if they satisfy the requirements laid down in Annex I.
Article 3No Member State may refuse or prohibit the sale, registration, entry into service or use of any vehicle on grounds relating to the wheel guards if they satisfy the requirements laid down in Annex I.
Article 4Any amendments necessary to adapt the provisions of the Annexes to take account of technical progress shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 13 of Directive 70/156/EEC.
Article 51.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 6This Directive is addressed to the Member States.
nullList of Annexes
Annex IGeneral requirements, special requirements, use of chains, application for EEC type-approval, granting of EEC type-approval, amendments to approvals, conformity of production
Annex IIInformation document
Annex IIIType-approval certificate
ANNEX IGENERAL REQUIREMENTS, SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS, USE OF CHAINS, APPLICATION FOR EEC TYPE-APPROVAL, GRANTING OF EEC TYPE-APPROVAL, AMENDMENTS TO APPROVALS, CONFORMITY OF PRODUCTION1.GENERAL REQUIREMENTS1.1.The motor vehicle must be provided with wheel guards (parts of the bodywork, mudguards, etc.).1.2.The wheel guards must be so designed as to protect other road users, as far as possible, against thrown-up stones, mud, ice, snow and water and to reduce for those users the dangers due to contact with the moving wheels.2.SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS2.1.The wheel guards shall meet the following requirements when the vehicle is in running order (see item 2.6 of Annex II) and carrying one passenger in the front seat and the wheels are in the straight ahead position:2.1.1.In the part formed by radial planes at an angle of 30 to the front and 50 to the rear of the centre of the wheels (see Figure 1), the overal width (q) of the wheel guards shall be at least sufficient to cover the total type width (b) taking into account the extremes of tyre/wheel combination as specified by the manufacturer and as indicated in item 1.3 of the Appendix to Annex III. In the case of twin wheels, the total width over the two tyres (t) shall be taken into account.2.1.1.1.For the purposes of determining the widths referred to in 2.1.1, the labelling (marking) and decorations, protective bands or ribs on tyre walls are not taken into account.2.1.2.The rear of the wheel guards must not terminate above a horizontal plane 150 mm above the axis of rotation of the wheels (as measured at the wheel centres) and furthermore the intersection of the edge of the wheel guard with this plane (point A, figure 1) must lie outside the median longitudinal plane of the tyre, or in the case of twin wheels the median longitudinal plane of the outermost tyre.2.1.3.The contour and location of the wheel guards shall be such that they are as close to the tyre as possible; and in particular within the part formed by the radial planes referred to in 2.1.1, they shall satisfy the following requirements:2.1.3.1.the projection — situated in the vertical plane of the tyre axis — of the depth (p) of the outer edge of the wheel guards, measured in the vertical longitudinal plane passing through the centre of the tyre, must be at least 30 mm. This depth (p) may be reduced progressively to zero at the radial planes specified in 2.1.1;2.1.3.2.the distance (c) between the lower edges of the wheel guards and the axis passing through the centre of the wheels must not exceed 2r, "r" being the static radius of the tyre.2.1.4.In the case of vehicles having adjustable suspension height, the abovementioned requirements must be met when the vehicle is in the normal running position specified by the vehicle manufacturer.2.2.The wheel guards may consist of several components, provided no gaps exist between or within the individual parts when assembled.2.3.The wheel guards must be firmly attached. However, they may be detachable either as a unit or in parts.3.USE OF CHAINS3.1.In the case of vehicles where only two wheels are driven, the manufacturer shall certify that the vehicle is so designed that at least one type of snow chain can be used on at least one of the types of wheel and tyre approved for the drive wheels of that type of vehicle. One chain/tyre/wheel combination that is suitable for the vehicle shall be specified by the manufacturer and indicated in item 1.2 of the Appendix to Annex III.3.2.In the case of vehicles where four wheels are driven, including vehicles where one drive axle may be disengaged manually or automatically, the manufacturer shall certify that the vehicle is so designed that at least one type of snow chain can be used on at least one of the types of wheel and tyre approved for at least one drive axle, which cannot be disengaged, of that type of vehicle. One chain/tyre/wheel combination that is situable for the vehicle and the drive wheels to which these chains may be fitted shall be specified by the manufacturer and indicated in item 1.2 of the Appendix to Annex III.3.3.Instructions regarding the type or types of chains that may be used must accompany each vehicle falling within the series conforming to the EEC type-approval vehicle.4.APPLICATION FOR EEC TYPE-APPROVAL4.1.The application for EEC type-approval pursuant to Article 3 (4) of Directive 70/156/EEC of a vehicle type with regard to wheel guards shall be submitted by the manufacturer.4.2.A model for the information document is given in Annex II.4.2.1.—a detailed description of the vehicle type with regard to wheel guards; and4.2.2.—detailed drawings of the wheel guards showing their position on the vehicle.4.3.A vehicle representative of the type of vehicle to be approved must be submitted to the technical service responsible for conducting type-approval tests.5.GRANTING OF EEC TYPE-APPROVAL5.1.If the relevant requirements are satisfied, EEC type-approval pursuant to Article 4 (3) of Directive 70/156/EEC shall be granted.5.2.A model for the EEC type-approval certificate is given in Annex III.5.3.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.6.MODIFICATIONS OF THE TYPE AND AMENDMENTS TO APPROVALS6.1.In the case of modifications of the vehicle type approved pursuant to this Directive, the provisions of Article 5 of Directive 70/156/EEC shall apply.7.CONFORMITY OF PRODUCTION7.1.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 IIInformation document No …pursuant to Annex I of Council Directive 70/156/EEC relating to EEC type-approval of a vehicle with respect to the wheel guards, Directive 78/549/EEC, as last amended by Directive …/…/EEC.The following information, if applicable, must be supplied in triplicate and include a list of contents. Any drawings must be supplied in appropriate scale and in sufficient detail on size A4 or on a folder of A4 format. Photographs, if any, must show sufficient detail.If the systems, components or separate technical units have electronic controls, information concerning their performance must be supplied.0GENERAL0.1.Make (trade name of manufacturer):0.2.Type and general commercial description(s):0.3.Means of identification of type, if marked, on the vehicle (b):0.3.1Location of that marking:0.4.Category of vehicle (c):0.5.Name and address of manufacturer:0.8.Address(es) of assembly plant(s):1.GENERAL CONSTRUCTION CHARACTERISTICS OF THE VEHICLE1.1.Photographs and/or drawings of a representative vehicle.1.3.Number of axles and wheels:1.3.1.Number and position of axles with double wheels.2.MASSES AND DIMENSIONS (e)(in kg and mm) (refer to drawing where applicable)2.4.Range of vehicle dimensions (overall)2.4.1.For chassis without bodyworkThe item numbers and footnotes used in this Information document correspond to those set out in Annex I to Directive 70/156/EEC.Items not relevant for the purpose of this Directive are omitted.2.4.1.3Height (unladen) (l) (For suspension adjustable for height, indicate normal running position):2.4.2.For chassis with bodywork2.4.2.3.Height (unladen) (l) (For suspension adjustable for height, indicate normal running position):2.6.Mass of the vehicle with bodywork in running order, or mass of the chassis with cab if the manufacturer does not fit the bodywork (including coolant, oils, fuel, tools, spare wheel and driver) (o) (maximum and minimum for each version):6.SUSPENSION6.6.Tyres and wheels6.6.1.Tyre/wheel combination(s) (For tyres indicate size designation, minimum load capacity index, minimum speed category symbol; for wheels indicate rim size(s) and off-set(s))6.6.1.1.Axles6.6.1.1.1.Axle 1:6.6.1.1.2.Axle 2:6.6.1.1.3.Axle 3:6.6.1.1.4.Axle 4:6.6.4.Chain/tyre/wheel combination on the front and/or rear axle that is suitable for the type of vehicle, as recommended by the manufacturer.9.BODYWORK9.16.Wheel guards9.16.1.Brief description of the vehicle with regard to its wheel guards:9.16.2.Detailed drawings of the wheel guards and their position on the vehicle showing the dimension specified in Figure 1 of Annex I to Directive 78/549/EEC and taking account of the extremes of tyre/wheel combinations.ANNEX III()Delete where not applicable.()If the means of identification of type contains characters not relevant to describe the vehicle, component or separate technical unit types covered by this type-approval certificate such characters shall be represented in the documentation by the symbol: "?" (e.g. ABC??123??)()As defined in Annex II A to Directive 70/156/EEC