Parliament rejects megalorry expansion

MEPs approve new safer lorry designs but block a Commission attempt to allow extra-large lorries to cross borders.

The European Parliament voted today (15 April) to reject a proposal from the European Commission to liberalise EU rules on ‘megalorries’.  

The lorries, larger than the European Union limit of 18.75 metres in length and 40 tonnes in weight, can currently be used in ‘trials’ but only within national borders. Last year the Commission changed its legal interpretation of the law to say that lorry trials can indeed cross borders, but MEPs demanded that this be proposed as legislation. It was inserted into a proposal for new lorry designs to improve fuel efficiency and safety.  

While MEPs approved the new lorry designs, they rejected the provision that would allow cross-border trials. They instead adopted, by a large majority, a resolution calling on the Commission to assess the impact of these vehicles on safety and the environment.  

Sweden and the Netherlands which are currently conducting the trials are keen to expand them to neighbouring countries, but some member states are concerned that allowing cross-border use will mean their larger neighbours will pressure them to start trials.  

The new lorry designs adopted today, which will be mandatory from 2022, will give more design space for the front end of the cab, allowing a more streamlined nose. Other improvements will get rid of blind spots and include a crumple zone to protect cyclists.  

The Confederation of European Railways, which opposes the expansion of megatrucks because they say it will move 35% of rail freight to road transport, welcomed today’s vote. 

“The Parliament vote is good news from a transport and from an environmental viewpoint,” said Libor Lochman, executive director. “The more you open the door to megatrucks, the more freight will shift away from sustainable transport modes.”  

“Allowing any wider use of megatrucks will inevitably lead to a domino effect and, in time, to their general use across Europe,” he added.   However Eva Lichtenberger, a Green MEP who was involved in negotiations, cautioned that the battle is not over yet. “It only buys a little time for ensuring a more responsible approach to this revision of EU rules on trucks,” she said. “According to today’s vote, the European Commission is tasked to deliver the missing impact assessment of cross-border trips from these controversial monster trucks before re-tabling any such proposal.”

The legislation must still be negotiated with member states, a task that will fall to the next Parliament.

MEPs voted on two other significant pieces of transport legislation today.

The Parliament voted to endorse a deal reached with member states to require all new vehicles put onto the market after 2017 to be equipped with an ‘eCall’ device – which automatically calls emergency services (112) in the event of an accident.

The start date was delayed by two years from the deadline of 2015 proposed by the Commission, a delay requested by member stats. “While it is gratifying that the legislation is finally on its way, we are still dismayed about the delay until 2017 for implementation,” said Jacob Bangsgaard, director general of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), which represents drivers.

It is estimated that eCall can speed up emergency response times by 40% in urban areas and 50% in the countryside and can reduce the number of fatalities by at least 4% and the number of severe injuries by 6%.

MEPs also voted to back a deal reached with member states last month on an ‘alternative fuel infrastructure’ package. The deal removes the hard targets contained in the Commission’s proposal for a minimum number of electric car charging points and stations for liquefied natural gas (LNG) and compressed natural gas (CNG). Member states insisted that these targets be removed. MEPs wanted to maintain the targets, but they gave in rather than see the legislation be dragged into the next legislative term. 

Cecile Toubeau of green transport group T&E called the final alternative fuels infrastructure legislation “short-sighted”.

Click Here: new zealand rugby team jerseys