389 L 0297: Council Directive 89/297/EEC of 13 April 1989 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the lateral protection (side guards) of certain motor vehicles and their trailers (OJ No L 124, 5.5.1989, p. 1).
LATERAL PROTECTION 1.
General prescriptions and definitions
1.1.
Every vehicle of categories N2, N3, O3 and O4 shall be so constructed and/or equipped as to offer, when a complete entity, effective protection to unprotected road users (pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists) against the risk of falling under the sides of the vehicle and being caught under the wheels (; ).
The Directive does not apply to:
- tractors for semi-trailers,
- trailers specially designed and constructed for the carriage of very long loads of indivisible length, such as timber, steel bars, etc.,
- vehicles designed and constructed for special purposes where it is not possible, for practical reasons, to fit such lateral protection.
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The device shall not increase the overall width of the vehicle and the main part of its outer surface shall not be more than 120 mm inboard from the outermost plane (maximum width) of the vehicle. Its forward end may be turned inwards on some vehicles in accordance with points 2.4.2 and 2.4.3. Its rearward end shall not be more than 30 mm inboard from the outermost edge of the rear tyres (excluding any bulging of the tyres close to the ground) over at least the rearmost 250 mm.
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The device may consist of a continuous flat surface, or of one or more horizontal rails, or a combination of surface and rails; when rails are used, they shall be not more than 300 mm apart and not less than:
- 50 mm high in the case of category N2 and O3 vehicles,
- 100 mm high and essentially flat in the case of N3 and O4 vehicles.
