Road transport, national and international traffic: maximum dimensions and weights

2000/0060(COD)
PURPOSE : to establish maximum authorised vehicle dimensions for the circulation of road vehicles transporting passengers. COMMUNITY MEASURE : Directive 2002/7/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directive 96/53/EC laying down for certain road vehicles circulating within the Community the maximum authorised dimensions in national and international traffic and the maximum authorised weights in international traffic. PURPOSE : This Directive harmonises maximum authorised vehicle dimensions, since differences between standards in Member States with regard to the dimensions of passenger road vehicles could have an adverse effect on the conditions of competition and constitute an obstacle to traffic between Member States. It lays down performance criteria as regards the manoeuvrability of buses. Buses of 15 meters in length will be allowed to operate throughout the EU. The maximum width is 2.55 meters. The UK and Portugal, due to the state of their infrastructure, have a time limited derogation of three years regarding the obligation to accept 15m buses with the revised manoeuvrability criteria. Older buses that do not comply with the Directive must be phased out by 2020. DATE FOR TRANSPOSITION : 09/03/04. DATE OF ENTRY INTO FORCE : 09/03/02.�