746 - Official Journal of the European Communities 6.9.71 . ) Official Journal of the European Communities No 202/37 COUNCIL DIRECTIVE of 26 July 1971 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the braking devices of certain categories of motor vehicles and of their trailers (71/320/EEC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, .Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 100 thereof; Having regard to the proposal from the Commission; Having regard to the Opinion of the FEuropean Parliament?; Having regard to the Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee?; Whereas the technical . requirements -which motor vehicles must satisfy pursuant to national laws relate, inter alia, to the braking devices of certain categories of motor vehicles and of their trailers; Whereas those requirements differ from one Member State to another; whereas it is therefore necessary that all Member States adopt the samé requirements either in addition to or instead of their existing rules, in order, in particular, to allow the EEC type approval procedure which was the subject of the Council Directive 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 to be applied in respect of each type of vehicle3; Whereas the harmonised requirements must ensure road safety throughout the whole Community; HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: Article 1 1. For the purposes of this Directive, ‘vehicle’ means any motor vehicle falling within one of the 1 O] No C 160, 18.12.1969, p. 7. 2 O] No C 100, 1.8.1969, p. 13. 3 O] No L 42,23.2.1970, p. 1. international categories listed below and intended for use on the road, such vehicle being with or without bodywork, having at least four wheels and a maximum design speed exceeding 25 ‘km/h, and its trailers, with the exception of vehicles which run on rails, agricultural tractors and machinery and public works vehicles: (a) Category M: Motor vehicles having at least four wheels or having “three wheels when the maximum weight exceeds 1 metric ton, and used for the carriage of passengers: '_ — Category Mi: Vehicles used for the carriage of passengers, and comprlsmg not more than eight seats in addition to the driver’s seat; — - Category Mz: Vehicles used for the carriage of passengers, comprising more than eight seats in addition to - the driver’s seat, and having a maximum weight not exceeding S metric tons; — Category Ms: Vehicles used for the carriage of passengers, comprising more ~ than eight seats in addition to the driver’s seat, and having a maximum weight exceeding 5 metric tons. (b) Category N: Motor vehicles having at least four wheels or having three wheels when the maximum weight exceeds 1 metric ton, and used for the carriage of goods: — Category N1: Vehicles used for the carriage of : goods and having a maximum weight not exceeding 3-5 metric tons; * — Category Na: Vehicles used for the carriage of goods and having a maximum weight exceeding 3-S5 but not .exceeding 12 metric tons;