OBJECTIVE: to extend the scope of Directive 77/143/EEC to ensure that road traffic within the
Community operates under the most favourable circumstances as regards both safety and
competitive conditions applying to carriers in the Member States. The directive consolidates
Directive 77/143/EEC and the directives that have amended it into a single text.
COMMUNITY MEASURE: Council Directive 96/96/CE on approximation of the laws of the
Member States relating to roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and their trailers.
SUBSTANCE: The directive provides for speed limitation devices for certain categories of heavy
goods vehicle and bus as part of Community technical tests, which means extending tachograph
tests.
The Member States may exclude vehicles belonging to the armed forces, the police and the fire
brigade and vehicles of historic interest manufactured before 1 January 1960 from the scope of the
directive; they may set their own testing standards for vehicles considered to be of historic interest.
Roadworthiness tests will be carried out by the State or by a public body or by duly authorized
private bodies. When establishments designated as vehicle testing centres also perform motor vehicle
repairs, Member States shall make every effort to ensure the objectivity and high quality of the
vehicle testing.
The Member States shall adopt the measures necessary to implement the system of tests laid down
in the directive. The measures adopted must be effective, proportionate and dissuasive.
ENTRY INTO FORCE: 09/03/1997
DEADLINE FOR TRANSPOSITION: 09/03/1998.
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