No L. 165/16 Official Journal of the European Communities 20.6.74 COUNCIL DIRECTIVE of 4 June 1974 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the interior fittings of motor vehicles (the behaviour of the steering mechanism in the event of an impact) (74/297/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 European Parliament (1); Having regard to the Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (2); Whereas the technical requirements which motor vehicles must satisfy pursuant to national laws relate, inter alia, to the behaviour of the steering mechanism in the event of an impact; Whereas these requirements differ from one Member Statc to another; whereas it is therefore necessary that ali Member States adopt he same requirements either in addition to or in place of their existing regulations; 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 vehicle; Whereas common requirements for interior rear-view mirrors have been laid down by the Council Directive of 1 March 1971 (%) and for the interior fittings of the passenger compartment, the layout of the controls, the roof and backrest and rear part of the seats by the Council Directive of 17 December 1973 (5); whe- reas other requirements will be adopted subsequently concerning interior fittings and relating to anchorages for safety belts and seats, head restraints and the identification of the controls; ) 2 ] No C 14, 27. 3. 1973, p. 18. ] No C 60, 26. 7. 1973, p. 13. J No L 42, 23. 2. 1970, p. 1. J No L 68, 22. 3. 1971, p. 1. I N o 0 0 o O] No L 38, 11. 2. 1974, p. 2. Whereas harmonized requirements must reduce the risk or the severity of injuries which may be suffered by the drivers of motor vehicles and thereby ensure road safety throughout the entire Community; Whereas, with regard to technical requircments, it is appropriate to utilize those adopted by the Economic Commission for Europe of the UNQ in its Regulation No 12 (%) (Uniform provisions concerning the approval of vehicles with regard to the protection of the driver against the steering mechanism in the event of impact) which is annexed to the Agreement of 20 March 1958 concerning the adoption of uniform conditions of approval and reciprocal recoguition of approval for motor vehicle equipment and parts, HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: Article 1 For the purpose of this Directive, ‘vehicle’ means any motor vehicle in category M1 (defined in Annex | of the Directive of 6 Februaty 1970) intended for use on the road, with or without bodywork, having at least four wheels and a maximum design speed exceeding 25 km/h, with the exception of a vehicle fitted with forward control as defined in 2.7 of Annex L. Article 2 No Member State may refuse to grant EEC type- approval or national type approval of a motor vehicle on grounds relating to the behaviour of the steering mechanism in the event of an impact if the latter complies with the requirements laid down in Annexes I, IT and III. Article 3 No Member State may refuse or prohibit the sale or registration, entry into service or use of any vehicle (®) ECE Geneva document E/ECE/324/Add. 11.