This document is an excerpt from the EUR-Lex website
Retrofitting of mirrors to heavy goods vehicles
Retrofitting of mirrors to heavy goods vehicles
Retrofitting of mirrors to heavy goods vehicles
Directive 2007/38/EC on the retrofitting of mirrors to heavy goods vehicles registered in the EU
The directive sets out rules for the retrofitting of rear-view mirrors to commercial vehicles designed to carry goods weighing more than 3.5 tonnes and registered after 1 January 2000.
This is principally to improve safety for other road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists, who are particularly exposed to dangers arising from the lateral blind spot which lorries have on the passenger side.
From 6 August 2007 and no later than 31 March 2009, all goods vehicles in the EU designed to carry more than 3.5 tonnes (category N2 and N3) must be retrofitted on the passenger side with class IV (wide-angle) and class V (close-proximity) mirrors.
The directive is a temporary measure that applies to vehicles registered after 1 January 2000 and that is aimed at improving the field of indirect vision for vehicles not covered by the new vehicle rules in Regulation (EC) No 661/2009.
The directive does not apply directly, but requires national governments to pass legislation making the mirrors mandatory.
Exceptions
EU countries must communicate a list of technical solutions to the European Commission, which then makes the information publicly available. It is the Commission’s responsibility, through the relevant committees, to ensure that equipment is installed and tested to verify compliance and roadworthiness.
It has applied since 3 August 2007. It had to become law in the EU countries by 6 August 2008.
For more information, see:
Directive 2007/38/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 July 2007 on the retrofitting of mirrors to heavy goods vehicles registered in the Community (OJ L 184, 14.7.2007, pp. 25-28)
Directive 2014/45/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 April 2014 on periodic roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and their trailers and repealing Directive 2009/40/EC (OJ L 127, 29.4.2014, pp. 51-128)
Regulation (EC) No 661/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 concerning type-approval requirements for the general safety of motor vehicles, their trailers and systems, components and separate technical units intended therefor (OJ L 200, 31.7.2009, pp. 1-24)
Successive amendments to Regulation (EC) No 661/2009 have been incorporated into the original document. This consolidated version is of documentary value only
last update 19.02.2018