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Two- or three-wheeled motor vehicles: restraint devices for passengers

1) OBJECTIVE

To harmonize the laws of the Member States and establish a type-approval procedure with regard to restraint devices for passengers on two-wheeled motor vehicles.

2) ACT

Council Directive 93/32/EEC of 14 June 1993 on restraint devices for passengers on two-wheeled motor vehicles [Official Journal L 188 of 29.07.1993].

Amended by the following:

Commission Directive 1999/24/EC of 9 April 1999 [Official Journal L 104 of 21.04.1999].

3) SUMMARY

Directive 93/32/EEC

This proposal comes under the type- approval procedure for two- or three-wheeled motor vehicles which was initially put in place by Council Directive 92/61/EEC but was subsequently repealed and replaced by Directive 2002/24/EC.

The vehicles covered by the proposal are as follows:

  • mopeds: two-wheeled vehicles powered by an engine having a cylinder capacity not exceeding 50 cm3 and having a maximum design speed not exceeding 45 km/h;
  • motorcycles: two-wheeled vehicles with or without sidecar powered by an engine having a cylinder capacity of more than 50 cm3 and/or having a maximum design speed of more than 45 km/h.

General requirements concerning the design and fitting of restraint systems:

  • the restraint system must take the form of a belt or handgrip(s);
  • the belt and its attachment must be able to withstand, without snapping or suffering permanent deformation, a vertical traction force of 2 000 N applied statically to the centre of the surface of the strap at a maximum pressure of 2 MPa;
  • the handgrip must be able to withstand, without snapping or suffering permanent deformation, a vertical traction force of 2 000 N applied statically to the centre of the surface of the handgrip at a maximum pressure of 2 MPa; if two handgrips are used, each must be able to withstand, without snapping or suffering permanent deformation, a vertical traction force of 1 000 N applied statically to the centre of the surface of the handgrip at a maximum pressure of 1 MPa.

Procedure for adapting requirements to technical progress.

Procedure for granting type-approval:

  • the application for type-approval is submitted by the manufacturer to the competent authority of a Member State;
  • the competent authority grants type-approval in respect of the restraint system if the latter fulfils the technical requirements of this proposal and matches the data supplied by the manufacturer;
  • the competent authority fills in to this effect the type-approval certificate to be found attached to the proposal.

The requirements relating to passenger restraint systems form part of a set of 47 characteristics provided for by Council Directive 92/61/EEC which must all be observed by manufacturers so that two- or three-wheeled motor vehicles may be type-approved and placed on the Community market.

Directive 1999/24/EC

Developments in technology permit an adaptation of Directive 93/32/EEC to technical progress. In order to ensure the proper functioning of the type-approval system as a whole, Directive 1999/24/EC adapts the provisions relating to the attachment of the strap and also the references contained in Part B of the information document.

The strap must be fitted to the seat or to other parts connected to the frame in such a way that it may easily be used by the passenger. The strap and its attachment must be designed in such a way that they withstand, without snapping, a vertical traction force of 2000 N applied statically to the centre of the surface of the strap at a maximum pressure of 2 Mpa.

Act

Date of entry into force

Deadline for implementation in the Member States

Directive 93/32/EEC

-

14.12.1994

Directive 1999/24/EC

11.05.1999

01.01.2000

4) implementing measures

5) follow-up work

Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on passenger hand-holds on two-wheel motor vehicles [COM(2003) 145 final - Not published in the Official Journal].

On 1 April 1987, the Commission decided to instruct its staff that all legislative measures should be codified after no more than ten amendments to ensure that the Community rules were clear and readily understandable. The purpose of this proposal is therefore to codify Directive 93/32/EEC.

Last updated: 18.07.2005

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