31.12.91 Official Journal of the European Communities ‘No L 366/1 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DIRECTIVE of 6 December 1991 adapting to technical progress Council Directive 74/297/EEC in respect of the behaviour of the steering wheel and column in an impact (91/662/EEC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, Having regard to Council Directive 74/297/EEC of 4 June 1974 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the interior fittings of motor vehicles (the behaviour of the steering mechanism in the event of an impact) (!), and in particular Article 5 thereof, Whereas, in view of experience gained and of the state of the art, it is now appropriate, in the case of a frontal impact, to improve protection offered to the driver by controlling the behaviour of the sterring wheel and mechanism which is the aim of Directive 74/297/EEC, by aligning it with the latest developments in the relevant Regulation of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and by the introduction of some further improvements; Whereas, in view of experience gained from accidents indicating that the steering wheel should be soft to protect the - driver’s face from serious injury, further modifications to this Directive should be introduced for this purpose; whereas, as several proposals for a test method are available, the Commission should bring forward a further proposal to the Committee for Adaptation to Technical Progress by 31 December 1991; Whereas the provisions of this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee for the Adaptation to Technical Progress of the Directives on Motor Vehicles, (1) O] No L 165, 20. 6. 1974, p. 16. HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: Article 1 The Annexes to Directive 74/297/EEC are hereby amended in accordance with the Annexes to this Directive. Article 2 1. » With effect from 1 October 1992 no Member State may (a) — refuse, in respect of a type of vehicle, to grant EC type-approval, or to issue the copy of the certificate provided for in rhe last indent of Article 10 (1) of Council Directive 70/156/EEC (2), or to grant national type-approval, or — prohibit the entry into service of vehicles, on grounds relating to their steering mechanism if this has been approved in accordance with Directive 74/297/EEC as amended by this Directive; (b) — refuse to grant EC type-approval in respect of a type of steering contro! intended for installation in a vehicle or vehicles, or : — prohibit the placing on the market of steering controls intended for installation in a vehicle or vehicles if the said steering control complies with the requirements of Directive 74/297/EEC as amended by this Directive. () OJ No L 42, 23. 2. 1970, p. 1.