Regulation (EC) No 661/2009 is a separate Regulation for the purposes of the type-approval procedure provided for by Directive 2007/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 September 2007 establishing a framework for the approval of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles (Framework Directive).

Regulation (EC) No 661/2009 repeals Council Directive 70/387/EEC of 27 July 1970 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the doors of motor vehicles and their trailers as well as Council Directive 75/443/EEC of 26 June 1975 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the reverse and speedometer equipment of motor vehicles. The requirements set out in those Directives for access steps, handholds and running boards as well as reversing devices should be carried over to this Regulation and, where necessary, adapted to the development of scientific and technical knowledge. Certain other requirements laid down in those Directives and which are not covered by this Regulation are already addressed through the compulsory application of UNECE Regulation No 11 and Regulation No 39 listed in Annex IV to Regulation (EC) No 661/2009.

The scope of this Regulation should be in line with that of Directive 70/387/EEC and Directive 75/443/EEC insofar appropriate. The Regulation should therefore cover vehicles of categories M and N.

Regulation (EC) No 661/2009 lays down basic requirements for the type-approval of motor vehicles with regard to vehicle access, namely access steps, handholds and running boards as well as manoeuvrability, namely reversing devices. It is necessary to set out the specific procedures, tests and requirements for such type-approval.

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Technical Committee – Motor Vehicles,