Council adopted Directive for frontal protection systems

Publication date: 13 October 2005

The Council adopted a directive aimed at improving the safety of pedestrians by laying down technical requirements on frontal protection systems in motor vehicles, by accepting all the amendments voted by the European Parliament at first reading. The purpose of the directive, which amends directive 70/156/EEC, is 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.

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.

The new provisions will be applicable nine months after publication in the EU Official Journal. They will be reviewed in the light of further research and experience gained during the first four years of application.

Related News Items:
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- MEPs call to phase out "bull bars" (19 January 2005)
- EU moves to remove "bull bars" (10 October 2003)