Road safety experts hit out at EU parliament vote

Belgium (Brussels Morning Newspaper), Campaigners say the European Parliament is supporting the enlargement within the variety of extra-long and extra-heavy lorries on EU roads.

They are saying this poses “critical potential penalties for highway security.”

The parliament this week voted on a proposal printed in July final yr by the European Fee to replace EU guidelines on weights and dimensions of lorries. The up to date new guidelines will simplify the authorized framework for longer and heavier automobiles, that are presently allowed solely underneath sure circumstances as a part of trials.

However the vote has angered Graziella Jost, Mission Director of the European Transport Security Council (ETSC).

He commented: “Large lorries are an enormous mistake for Europe. Whereas mega-trucks might have a spot underneath very particular circumstances in some international locations, these authorized modifications will result in a mass roll-out with the potential for very grave impacts on highway security.

“Virtually half of MEPs needed to take away the brand new provisions to increase using megatrucks however an modification to do this didn’t go by simply six votes. We strongly urge the EU to rethink these proposed modifications and as a substitute keep the present observe of restricted trials the place the impacts may be extra intently monitored.”

Typical longer and heavier lorries (LHVs) are lorry and trailer combos 25.25 meters lengthy, almost 9 meters longer than commonplace lorries in Europe, and weighing 60 tonnes. To place that into perspective, these automobiles are so long as six passenger automobiles and weigh as a lot as a completely loaded Boeing 737 300. In Finland, 34.5m, 76-tonne configurations are permitted.

ETSC says it has critical considerations about LHVs’ affect on highway security and says all of the impacts of wider adoption haven’t been totally assessed.

The potential dangers that ETSC alleges haven’t been totally investigated embody:

• LHVs might speed up highway infrastructure degradation, resulting in extra frequent upkeep and issues of safety;• LHVs require tailored infrastructure, posing challenges in work zones, parking, resting areas, and extra;• the affect resistance of limitations on bridges crossing above railways will not be enough to stop a crash between an LHV and a prepare;• LHVs can wrestle with intersections. They could use house for weak customers throughout turns, doubtlessly encroaching on pavements or cycle paths.

The proposal, it’s alleged, additionally comprises no particular authorized safeguards relating to who drives longer and heavier automobiles. That signifies that in a number of EU international locations, 18-year-olds might drive them with out requiring any further coaching in contrast to what’s required for the standard lorry. In a separate authorized proposal on driving licences, the Fee additionally needs to require all EU Member States to introduce an accompanied lorry driving scheme for 17-year-olds. Information present that youthful lorry drivers are at a a lot greater threat of crashing.

A latest examine additionally exhibits that the enlargement of longer and heavier highway freight transport can have substantial destructive results on the rail freight sector, which has a significantly higher security report.

A closing deal on the revised guidelines will solely be agreed upon following so-called ‘trialogue’ talks between representatives of the Fee, EU Member States, and the Parliament, attributable to happen after the European Parliamentary elections in June.