OBJECTIVE: the removal at Community level of obstacles to traffic between Member States which result from differences between standards with regard to the weights and dimensions of commercial road vehicles.
COMMUNITY MEASURE : Council Directive 96/53/EC laying down for certain road vehicles circulating within the Community the maximum authorized dimensions in national and international traffic and the maximum authorized weights in international traffic.
SUBSTANCE : more specifically, the Directive:
- consolidates Directive 85/3/EEC on the weights, dimensions and certain other technical characteristics of certain road vehicles, amended on many occasions, and Directive 86/364/EEC relating to proof of compliance of vehicles with Directive 85/3/EEC;
- increases the maximum authorized length of a road train from 18.35 to 18.75 m, thus increasing from 16 to 16.4 m the maximum distance;
- increases the maximum authorized width of vehicles other than conditioned vehicles from 2.5 to 2.55 m;
- extends to domestic freight transport the rules governing the dimensions laid down for international transport, excluding the maximum authorized height (4 m) which thus remains solely applicable to international transport;
- authorizes Member States to prohibit the use in their territory, during a transitional period expiring on 31 December 1999, of buses exceeding a maximum width of 2.50 m;
- enlarges the current definition of 'thick-walled refrigerated vehicle', such a vehicle now being defined as a 'conditioned vehicle'.
To take account of situations peculiar to certain regions or industrial sectors, Member States may allow vehicles used for goods transport to circulate in their territory with dimensions deviating from those laid down by the Directive where such transport operations do not significantly affect international competition. The Directive exhaustively defines such transport operations.
DATE OF ENTRY INTO FORCE: 17 September 1996
DEADLINE FOR TRANSPOSITION INTO NATIONAL LEGISLATION: 17 September 1997.