Council Directive of 28 June 1977 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to safety belts and restraint systems of motor vehicles (77/541/EEC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community and in particular Article 100 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament⁽¹⁾,

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee⁽²⁾,

1. Whereas the technical requirements which motor vehicles must satisfy pursuant to national laws relate inter alia to seat belts and restraint systems;

2. Whereas these requirements differ from one Member State to another; whereas it is therefore necessary that all Member States adopt the same requirements either in addition to or in place of their existing regulations, in order in particular to allow the EEC type-approval procedure which was the subject of Council Directive 70/156/EEC of 6 February 1970 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the type-approval of motor vehicles and their trailers⁽³⁾ to be applied in respect of each type of vehicle;

3. Whereas common requirements for the interior parts of the passenger compartment, the layout of controls, the roof, the backrest and rear part of the seats have been laid down by Directive 74/60/EEC⁽⁴⁾; whereas requirements for the internal fittings relating to the protection of the driver against injury by the steering mechanism in the event of an impact have been laid down by Directive 74/297/EEC⁽⁵⁾; whereas requirements relating to the strength of the seats and their anchorages have been laid down by Directive 74/408/EEC⁽⁶⁾; whereas requirements relating to anchorages for safety belts have been laid down by Directive 76/115/EEC⁽⁷⁾; whereas other requirements relating to internal fittings, and in particular those relating to head restraints and the identification of the controls, will be laid down at a later date;

4. Whereas rules for seat belts and restraint systems include not only design requirements but also their fitting in motor vehicles;

5. Whereas a harmonized component type-approval procedure for safety belts and restraint systems makes it possible for each Member State to check compliance with the common design and testing requirements and to inform the other Member States of its findings by sending a copy of the component type-approval certificate completed for each type of safety belt or restraint system; whereas the placing of an EEC component type-approval mark on all safety belts and restraint systems manufactured in conformity with the approved type obviates any need for technical checks on these safety belts and restraint systems in the other Member States;

6. Whereas the main purpose of the harmonized requirements is to promote road safety; whereas it should therefore be made compulsory to fit safety belts and restraint systems to vehicles covered by this Directive;

7. Whereas the approximation of national laws relating to motor vehicles entails mutual recognition by the Member States of checks carried out by each of them on the basis of the common requirements,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: