Tractors and agricultural or forestry machinery: driver’s seat

The European Union is harmonising the technical requirements concerning the driver’s seat on wheeled agricultural and forestry tractors. In this way, it is facilitating the implementation of the Community type-approval procedure which was covered by Directive 74/150/EEC but which has been repealed and replaced by Directive 2003/37/EC.

ACT

Council Directive 78/764/EEC of 25 July 1978 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the driver’s seat on wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors [See amending acts].

SUMMARY

Directive 78/764/EEC

Scope: for the purpose of this Directive, ’agricultural or forestry tractor’ means any motor vehicle, fitted with wheels or endless tracks, having at least two axles, the main function of which lies in its tractive power and which is specially designed to tow, push, carry or power certain tools, machinery or trailers intended for agricultural or forestry use. It may be equipped to carry a load and passengers. Directive 78/764/EEC applies only to the specified tractors which are fitted with pneumatic tyres and which have two axles and a maximum design speed of between 6 and 25 km/h.

The provisions in the Directive relating to drivers’ seats cover not only the requirements for their installation on tractors but also the construction of the seats.

Each Member State must grant EEC component type-approval for any type of driver’s seat which satisfies the construction and testing requirements laid down in the Annexes to the Directive.

Directive 82/890/EEC

This Directive extends the scope of Directive 78/764/EEC. Henceforth, the legislation applies to the tractors specified under Directive 78/764/EEC which are fitted with pneumatic tyres and which have two axles and a maximum design speed of between 6 and 30 km/h.

Directive 87/354/EEC

This Directive amends the legislation in force, with respect to the distinctive numbers and letters indicating the Member States.

Directive 97/54/EC

This Directive amends the scope of Directive 78/764/EEC. The maximum design speed of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors is henceforth 40 km/h.

Directive 1999/57/EC

In order to improve safety, this Directive specifies in detail how the driver’s seat is to be fitted while avoiding poor ergonomics.

Directive 78/764/EEC has been repealed by Regulation (EU) No 167/2013 with effect from 1 January 2016.

Last updated: 02.07.2014