The committee adopted the report by Mrs Heidi HAUTALA (V, FIN) on the proposal for a
directive on the maximum design speed of tractors (modification of a series of existing
directives) (codecision first reading).
The aim of the Commission proposal is to align national legislation and European directives and
improve road safety.
Current European legislation applies to tractors with a maximum design speed of between 6 and
30 km/h. However, an increasing number of tractors can travel at speeds in excess of 30 km/h.
As a result, manufacturers are taking recourse more and more frequently to national rather than
Community type-approval procedures. In order to keep pace with the market and extend the
scope of the directive, the Commission proposes to extend the scope of the directive to tractors
with a design speed of 40 km/h.
The committee approves of this approach but highlights the need (in three new recitals) to
address the following problems: the obligation to hold a driving licence, the use of seat belts,
driving while under the influence of alcohol, technical controls and pollution.�