Article 1 Amendments to Directive 77/541/EEC

Directive 77/541/EEC is hereby amended as follows:

1. 1..

   the following Article shall be inserted:

   ‘Article 2a

   1.

   Member States may, under national law, allow the installation of safety belts or restraint systems other than those covered by this Directive provided they are intended for disabled people.

   2.

   Member States may also exempt restraint systems designed to comply with the provisions of Annex VII to Directive 2001/85/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 November 2001 relating to special provisions for vehicles used for the carriage of passengers comprising more than eight seats in addition to the driver's seat^f1 from the provisions of this Directive.

   3.

   The requirements of Annex I, point 3.2.1 of this Directive shall not apply to seat belts and restraint systems covered by paragraphs 1 and 2.’

2. 2..

   in Article 9, the following paragraph shall be added:

   ‘Vehicles of category M₂ and M₃ shall be subdivided into classes as defined in section 2 of Annex I to Directive 2001/85/EC.’;

3. 3..

   Annex I shall be amended as follows:

   1. (a)

      the footnote related to point 3.1 shall be deleted;

   2. (b)

      point 3.1.1 shall be replaced by the following:

      ‘3.1.1.

      With the exception of seating intended solely for use when the vehicle is stationary, the seats of vehicles belonging to category M₁, M₂ (of class III or B), M₃ (of class III or B) and N shall be equipped with safety belts and/or restraint systems conforming to the requirements of this Directive.

      Class I, II or A vehicles belonging to category M₂ or M₃ may be fitted with safety belts and/or restraint systems, provided they conform to the requirements of this Directive.’