Transport of dangerous goods by road: type-approval of motor vehicles and trailers (amend. Directive 70/156/EEC)

The Committee has adopted the report by Fernand LE RACHINEL (F, NI) on the proposal relating to motor vehicles and their trailers with regard to the transport of dangerous goods by road. This proposal aims at amending Directive 70/156/EC in order to establish a European system of type-approval for vehicles used for the transport of dangerous goods. Special provisions for the design and construction of vehicles and technical specifications regarding electrical equipment, braking systems, fire risk prevention and speed limitations will be laid down. This harmonization of the construction characteristics of the vehicles concerned will also prevent one member state from prohibiting the sale, registration or entry into service of motor vehicles which have already secured type-approval in other member states. In future, the vehicles concerned will be divided into five different classes, depending on the carriage of the type of dangerous goods.