Directive 2007/38/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 July 2007 on the retrofitting of mirrors to heavy goods vehicles registered in the Community
Data as of 2026-07-04 · Compiled from an official source version. Later amendments or repeals may not be reflected; the official text prevails. · Read the official text ↗
This Directive lays down requirements for the fitting with systems of indirect vision of vehicles of categories N 2 and N 3 as referred to in point 2 of Annex II, Section A to 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 ( 8 ) which are registered in the Community.
1. This Directive shall apply to vehicles of categories N 2 and N 3 which are not type-approved or approved as a single vehicle under Directive 2003/97/EC. 2. This Directive shall not apply to any of the following: (a) Vehicles of categories N 2 and N 3 registered before 1 January 2000; (b) Vehicles of category N 2 having a maximum total permissible mass not exceeding 7,5 tons, where it is impossible to mount a class V mirror in a way that ensures that the following conditions are fulfilled: (i) no part of the mirror is less than 2 m (a tolerance of + 10 cm may be applied) from the ground, regardless of the adjustment position, when the vehicle is under a load corresponding to its maximum technically permissible weight; and (ii) the mirror is fully visible from the driving position; (c) Vehicles of categories N 2 and N 3 that are subject to national measures which entered into force before the dates for transposition of Directive 2003/97/EC and which require fitment, on the passenger side, of other means of indirect vision covering not less than 95 % of the total field of vision at ground level of class IV and class V mirrors under that Directive.
1. With effect from 6 August 2007, and not later than 31 March 2009, Member States shall require that all vehicles referred to in Article 2(1) be equipped, on the passenger side, with wide-angle and close-proximity mirrors which fulfil the requirements for class IV and class V mirrors under Directive 2003/97/EC respectively. 2. By way of derogation from paragraph 1, compliance with the requirements of this Directive shall be deemed to be achieved where vehicles are equipped, on the passenger side, with wide-angle and close-proximity mirrors, whose combination of fields of vision covers not less than 95 % of the field of vision at ground level of a class IV mirror and not less than 85 % of the field of vision at ground level of a class V mirror under Directive 2003/97/EC. 3. Vehicles referred to in Article 2 which, for want of available, economically viable, technical solutions, cannot be equipped with mirrors complying with the requirements set out in paragraphs 1 or 2 of this Article, may be equipped with supplementary mirrors and/or other devices of indirect vision, provided that the combination of such devices covers not less than 95 % of the field of vision at ground level of a class IV mirror and not less than 85 % of the field of vision at ground level of a class V mirror under Directive 2003/97/EC. 4. Member States shall communicate a list of technical solutions complying with this Article to the Commission. The Commission shall make the information notified publicly available, via its website or any other appropriate means, to all Member States.
1. Compliance with the requirements set out in Article 3(1), (2) and (3) shall be established through proof furnished by a Member State in accordance with Article 3 of Directive 96/96/EC. 2. The Commission, assisted by the committees referred to in Article 8 of Directive 96/96/EC and Article 13(1) of Directive 70/156/EEC, each within their respective remits, shall take the appropriate measures to ensure that the equipment referred to in Article 3 of this Directive is installed and tested in order to establish its compliance and roadworthiness in accordance with the requirements of this Directive. These measures shall be taken not later than 6 August 2008.
By 6 August 2011 the Commission shall submit to the European Parliament and to the Council a report on the implementation of this Directive together with a study on blind spot accidents covering all vehicles and costs incurred, with the aim of improving road safety. On the basis of a more comprehensive cost-benefit analysis, the Commission's report shall be accompanied, if appropriate, by a proposal for the revision of existing legislation.
1. Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by 6 August 2008. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions and a correlation table between those provisions and this Directive. When Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made. 2. Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive.
This Directive shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union .
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.
Source: EUR-Lex (Publications Office of the EU), © European Union, reuse permitted under Commission Decision 2011/833/EU.