- Latest available (Revised)
- Point in Time (06/05/2009)
- Original (As adopted by EU)
Directive 2009/40/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 May 2009 on roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and their trailers (Recast) (Text with EEA relevance) (repealed)
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Version Superseded: 28/07/2010
EU Directives are published on this site to aid cross referencing from UK legislation. Since IP completion day (31 December 2020 11.00 p.m.) no amendments have been applied to this version.
The following items are to be included in the roadworthiness test of vehicle braking systems. The test results achieved during the checks on the braking systems must be equivalent as far as is practicable to the technical requirements of Directive 71/320/EEC.
a 48 % for category 1 vehicles not fitted with ABS, or type-approved before 1 October 1991 (date of prohibition of first putting into circulation without EC component type-approval) (Directive 71/320/EEC). | |
b 45 % for vehicles registered after 1988 or from the date of application of Directive 71/320/EEC, under Member States’ national legislation, whichever is the later. | |
c 43 % for semi-trailers and draw-bar trailers registered after 1988 or from the date of application of Directive 71/320/EEC, under Member States’ national legislation, whichever is the later. | |
d 50 % for category 5 vehicles registered after 1988 or from the date of application of Directive 71/320/EEC, under Member States’ national legislation, whichever is the later. | |
e The reference value for the vehicle axle is the braking effort (expressed in newtons) necessary to achieve this minimum prescribed braking force at the particular weight that the vehicle is presented. | |
f For category 2 and 5 vehicles the minimum secondary brake performance must be 2,2 m/s2 (as the secondary brake performance was not covered by Directive 71/320/EEC). | |
Items to be checked/tested | Reasons for failure |
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1.1.Mechanical condition and operation | |
1.1.1.Footbrake pedal pivot |
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1.1.2.Pedal condition and travel of the brake operating device |
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1.1.3.Vacuum pump or compressor and reservoirs |
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1.1.4.Low pressure warning indicator or gauge |
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1.1.5.Hand-operated brake control valve |
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1.1.6.Parking brake, lever control, parking brake ratchet |
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1.1.7.Braking valves (foot valves, unloaders, governors, etc.) |
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1.1.8.Couplings for trailer brakes |
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1.1.9.Energy storage reservoir pressure tank |
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1.1.10.Brake servo units, master cylinder (hydraulic systems) |
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1.1.11.Rigid brake pipes |
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1.1.12.Flexible brake hoses |
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1.1.13.Brake coverings (lining pads) |
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1.1.14.Brake drums, brake discs |
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1.1.15.Brake cables, rods, levers linkage |
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1.1.16.Brake actuators (including spring brakes or hydraulic wheel cylinders) |
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1.1.17.Load sensing valve |
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1.1.18.Automatic slack adjusters indicating |
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1.1.19.Retarder system (where fitted or required) |
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1.2.Service brake performance and efficiency | |
1.2.1.Performance (progressively increased to maximum effort) |
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1.2.2.Efficiency |
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1.3.Secondary (emergency) brake performance and efficiency (if met by separate system) | |
1.3.1.Performance |
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1.3.2.Efficiency |
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1.4.Parking brake performance and efficiency | |
1.4.1.Performance |
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1.4.2.Efficiency |
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1.5.Retarder or exhaust brake system performance |
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1.6.Anti-lock braking |
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a Council Regulation (EEC) No 3821/85 of 20 December 1985 on recording equipment in road transport (OJ L 370, 31.12.1985, p. 8). | |
b Council Directive 92/6/EEC of 10 February 1992 on the installation and use of speed limitation devices for certain categories of motor vehicles in the Community (OJ L 57, 2.3.1992, p. 27). | |
VEHICLES IN CATEGORIES 1, 2 AND 3 | VEHICLES IN CATEGORIES 4, 5 AND 6 |
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2. Steering and steering wheel | 2. Steering |
2.1.Mechanical condition | 2.1.Mechanical condition |
2.2.Steering wheel | 2.2.Steering play |
2.3.Steering play | 2.3.Steering system attachment |
2.4.Wheel bearings | |
3. Visibility | 3. Visibility |
3.1.Field of vision | 3.1.Field of vision |
3.2.Condition of glass | 3.2.Condition of glass |
3.3.Rear-view mirrors | 3.3.Rear-view mirrors |
3.4.Windscreen wipers | 3.4.Windscreen wipers |
3.5.Screen washers | 3.5.Screen washers |
4. Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 4. Lighting equipment |
4.1.Main and dipped-beam headlamps | 4.1.Main and dipped-beam headlamps |
4.1.1.Condition and operation | 4.1.1.Condition and operation |
4.1.2.Alignment | 4.1.2.Alignment |
4.1.3.Switches | 4.1.3.Switches |
4.1.4.Visual efficiency | |
4.2.Side lamps and end-outline marker lamps | 4.2.Condition and operation, condition of lenses, colour and visual efficiency of: |
4.2.1.Condition and operation | 4.2.1.Side and rear lamps |
4.2.2.Colour and visual efficiency | 4.2.2.Stop lamps |
4.2.3.Direction-indicator lamps | |
4.2.4.Reserving lamps | |
4.2.5.Fog lamps | |
4.2.6.Rear registration plate lamps | |
4.2.7.Retro reflectors | |
4.2.8.Hazard warning lamps | |
4.3.Stop lamps | |
4.3.1.Condition and operation | |
4.3.2.Colour and visual efficiency | |
4.4.Direction-indicator lamps | |
4.4.1.Condition and operation | |
4.4.2.Colour and visual efficiency | |
4.4.3.Switches | |
4.4.4.Flashing frequency | |
4.5.Front and rear fog lamps | |
4.5.1.Position | |
4.5.2.Condition and operation | |
4.5.3.Colour and visual efficiency | |
4.6.Reversing lamps | |
4.6.1.Condition and operation | |
4.6.2.Colour and visual efficiency | |
4.7.Rear registration plate lamp | |
4.8.Retro reflectors
| |
4.9.Telltales | |
4.10.Electrical connections between drawing vehicle and trailer or semi-trailer | |
4.11.Electrical wiring | |
5. Axles, wheels, tyres, suspension | 5. Axles, wheels, tyres, suspension |
5.1.Axles | 5.1.Axles |
5.2.Wheels and tyres | 5.2.Wheels and tyres |
5.3.Suspension | 5.3.Suspension |
6. Chassis and chassis attachments | 6. Chassis and chassis attachments |
6.1.Chassis or frame and attachments | 6.1.Chassis or frame and attachments |
6.1.1.General condition | 6.1.1.General condition |
6.1.2.Exhaust pipes and silencers | 6.1.2.Exhaust pipes and silencers |
6.1.3.Fuel tank or pipes | 6.1.3.Fuel tank or pipes |
6.1.4.Geometric properties and condition of rear protective device, heavy lorries | 6.1.4.Spare-wheel carrier |
6.1.5.Spare-wheel carrier | 6.1.5.Security of coupling mechanism (if fitted) |
6.1.6.Coupling mechanism on drawing vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers | |
6.2.Cab and bodywork | 6.2.Bodywork |
6.2.1.General condition | 6.2.1.Structural condition |
6.2.2.Mounting | 6.2.2.Doors and locks |
6.2.3.Doors and locks | |
6.2.4.Floor | |
6.2.5.Driver’s seat | |
6.2.6.Running boards | |
7. Other equipment | 7. Other equipment |
7.1.Safety belts | 7.1.Mounting of driver’s seat |
7.2.Fire extinguisher | 7.2.Mounting of battery |
7.3.Locks and anti-theft device | 7.3.Audible warning device |
7.4.Warning triangle | 7.4.Warning triangle |
7.5.First-aid kit | 7.5.Safety belts |
7.5.1.Security of mountings | |
7.5.2.Condition of belts | |
7.5.3.Operation | |
7.6.Wheel chock(s) | |
7.7.Audible warning device | |
7.8.Speedometer | |
7.9.Tachograph (presence of, and integrity of seals)
| |
7.10.Speed limitation device
| |
8. Nuisance | 8. Nuisance |
8.1.Noise | 8.1.Noise |
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