Road safety: frontal protection systems on motor vehicles (amend. Directive 70/156/EEC)

PURPOSE : to improve pedestrian and vehicle safety by laying down technical requirements for the type-approval of motor vehicles as regards frontal protection systems.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Directive 2005/66/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council relating to the use of frontal protection systems on motor vehicles and amending Council Directive 70/156/EEC.

CONTENT : This Directive aims to improve pedestrian and vehicle safety through passive measures. It lays down technical requirements for the type-approval of motor vehicles as regards frontal protection systems supplied as original equipment fitted to vehicles or as separate technical units. The Council accepted all the amendments voted by the European Parliament at first reading.

Under the new rules, frontal protection systems for motor vehicles of class M1 (up to 8 persons) and N1 (goods up to 3,5 tonnes) must comply with testing requirements proving that are designed in a way that improves pedestrian safety and reduces the number of injuries.

The directive, which is part of the European road safety action programme, may be supplemented by national measures to prohibit or restrict the use of frontal protection systems already on the market before its entry into force.

Not later than 25 August 2010, in the light of technical progress and experience, the Commission shall review the technical provisions of the Directive and, in particular, the conditions for requiring the Upper Legform to Frontal Protection System test, the inclusion of an Adult Headform to Frontal Protection System test and the specification of a Child Headform to Frontal Protection System test. The results of this review will be the subject of a report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council.

ENTRY INTO FORCE : 15/12/2005.

DATE OF TRANSPOSITION : 25/08/2006.