6. 9. 84 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 238/31 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COUNCIL COUNCIL DIRECTIVE of 3 September 1984 amending Directive 70/157/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the permissible sound level and the exhaust system of motor vehicles (84/424/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 Commis- sion ('), ' Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (%), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (), Whereas Directive 70/157/EEC (*), as last amended by Directive 81/334/EEC (%), lays down in its Annex the maximum sound levels for motor vehicles intended for use on the road, with or without bodywork, and having at least four wheels and a maximum design speed exceeding 25 kilometres per hour, with the exception of vehicles which run on rails, agricultural or forestry tractors and machinery and public works vehicles ; Whereas the protection of the public in urban areas against noise nuisance requires suitable measures to () OJ No C 200, 27. 7. 1983, p. S. () O] No C 172, 2. 7. 1984, p. 157. ) OJ No C 358, 31. 12. 1983, p. 4. () O No L 42, 23. 2. 1970, p. 16. () O] No L 131, 18. 5. 1981, p. 6. reduce the noise level of motor vehicles ; whereas such a reduction has been made possible by technical progress in motor vehicle construction ; Whereas Annex 1 to Directive 70/157/EEC should accordingly be amended by reducing the permissible sound level values expressed in dB (A) for every_cate- gory of vehicle referred to therein; Whereas such a reduction represents a major step forward in the improvement of the environment; whereas the provisions in question should nevertheless be reviewed at a later date in the light of the results of the Commission’s work in the context of an overall approach, taking account simultaneously of all the main aspects of Community rules in the motor-vehicle sector, in particular those relating to safety, environ- mental protection and energy conservation, HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: Article 1 In Annex I to Directive 70/157/EEC, point 5.2.2.1 is reworded as follows :