Tractors and agricultural or forestry machinery: lighting and light-signalling devices

1) OBJECTIVE

To enable the EEC type-approval procedure laid down by Council Directive 74/150/EEC, which was subsequently repealed and replaced by Directive 2003/37/EC, to be implemented by harmonising the technical requirements concerning lighting and light-signalling devices on wheeled agricultural and forestry tractors.

2) ACT

Council Directive

78/933/EEC

of 17 October 1978 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the installation of lighting and light-signalling devices on wheeled agricultural and forestry tractors [Official Journal L 325 of 20.11.1978].

Amended by:

Council Directive 82/890/EEC of 17 December 1982 [Official Journal L 378 of 31.12.1982];

European Parliament and Council Directive 97/54/EC of 23 September 1997 [Official Journal L 277 of 10.10.1997];

Commission Directive 1999/56/EC of 3 June 1999 [Official Journal L 146 of 11.06.1999]

Commission Directive 2006/26/EC of 2 March 2006 [Official Journal L 65 of 07.03.2006].

3) SUMMARY

Directive 78/933/EEC

Scope of the Directive: agricultural or forestry tractors are defined as 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. The Directive only applies to tractors meeting this definition which are fitted with pneumatic tyres and which have two axles and a maximum design speed of between 6 and 25 km/h.

2. No Member State may refuse to grant EEC type-approval or national type-approval of a tractor on grounds relating to the installation of lighting and light-signalling devices, whether mandatory or optional, listed in the Annex to the Directive if these are installed in accordance with the requirements set out in that Annex.

The Directive deals with many types of lighting and and dipped-beam headlamps, front fog-lamps, reversing lamps, direction indicator lamps, hazard-warning signals, stop lamps, rear registration plate lamps, position lamps, end-outline marker lamps, reflex reflectors and work lamps.

The Directive sets out the color, number, positioning and, in some cases, assembly diagrams for each type of lighting device.

Directive 82/890/EEC

This Directive extends the scope of Directive 78/933/EEC. Henceforth, it applies to tractors as defined by the above Directive which are fitted with pneumatic tyres and which have at least two axles and a maximum design speed of between 6 and 30 km/h.

Directive 97/54/EC

This Directive amends the scope of Directive 78/933/EEC. The maximum design speed of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors is henceforth 40 km/h.

Directive 1999/56/EC

This Directive specifies how light-signalling devices should be installed in the light of technical progress.

Last updated: 11.07.2006