by Does a holiday always mean a driving ban?
From time to time we are asked why we do not provide information about a driving ban if there is a holiday in a certain country on a given day. Here’s the explanation.
❌ First of all, not every European country has traffic restrictions for heavy goods vehicles. This is the case in Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands, among others.
❌ Secondly, one needs to distinguish between holidays and days with HGV driving bans. Usually they overlap, but this is not a rule, as in the case of the Feast of Epiphany (January 6). While it is a public holiday in Poland and Germany, neither country has a HGV driving ban on this day. There are more such examples in Germany: August 15 and November 22.
❌ Since there are more such situations in European countries, you should always check if the holiday is associated with any driving bans. All relevant information can be found on trafficban.com.
by Belgium: closure of the Kennedy Tunnel in Antwerp
The Kennedy Tunnel on the Antwerp ring road (R1) will be closed in both diurections from 00:00 to 7:00 AM on Saturday/Sunday 5/6.08 and on Saturday/Sunday 12/13.08 in order to remove defects in the high-voltage system.
Although the tunnel will be closed at nighttime, drivers can expect significant traffic disruptions, including the closure of several other nearby roads.
The list of affected roads:
• E19 from Brussels to R1 in the direction of Ghent;
• Wilrijk exit (5) to R1 in the direction of Ghent (Jan van Rijswijcklaan);
• Jan De Vostunnel (A112) from Brussels to the R1 in the direction of Ghent;
• Jan Devoslei (N186) and the Kiel connecting road (14) on Kolonel Silvertopstraat (N148) with the Bolivar Tunnel / the R1 in the direction of Ghent;
• the junction from the Bolivar Tunnel to the R1 in the direction of Ghent;
• E17 in the direction of Antwerp from the Antwerp-West junction;
• E34 with the R1 towards Antwerp.
by A 7 tunnel construction in Altona: traffic difficulties
The traffic will be reorganised over several consecutive nights, including lane reductions and a night-time closure of the northbound carriageway between the junction HH-Othmarschen (29) and junction HH-Volkspark (27).
From Thursday, July 27, until the first quarter of 2024 at the HH-Othmarschen (29) junction
• no left turn for traffic from the direction of Wedel on the A7
– drivers can use the northbound slip lane at the HHBahrenfeld (28) junction.
From 10:00 PM on Saturday, July 29, to 9:00 AM on Sunday, July 30,
• nighttime closure of the northbound/Flensburg carriageway
• from 9:00 PM all junctions between HH-Othmarschen (29) and HH-Volkspark (27) will be closed.
Since no adequate diversion exists at HH-Othmarschen (29), traffic has to be diverted over longer routes!
The following diversions are available:
A wide diversion from the Maschener Kreuz (36) via the A 1, A 21 and B 205 is available for northbound transit traffic.
The official city diversion in the direction of Flensburg starts from the HH-Heimfeld junction (32) via the obligatory diversion U7 via the B 73 and B 75 to the Elbe bridges, further on the B 4 to get to the individual districts or further to the AS HH-Volkspark (27) or AS HH-Stellingen (26) to get back on the A7.
Oversize and abnormal transports:
A waiting zone will be set up on the A7 north of the Elbe tunnel at the HH-Othmarschen (29) junction for vehicles carrying oversize and abnormal loads that have already been approved. Depending on the type of approval, the intention of driving through the Elbe tunnel should be reported as usual by telephone one hour in advance, upon which vehicles can enter the waiting zone north of the Elbe tunnel on the A7. From there, vehicles will be guided through the closed-off section on request!
by From August 1 Non-UK HGVs need to pay road user levy
The levy amount will be based on:
• vehicle weight as a broad approximation to CO2 emissions
• vehicle air quality emissions standard
• levy duration.
• vehicle weight as a broad approximation to CO2 emissions
• vehicle air quality emissions standard
• levy duration.
The levy was suspended in August 2020 to support the haulage sector and aid pandemic recovery efforts. Following a consultation in 2022, a new reformed levy will come into effect from August 2023 with a revised structure and rates.
Non-UK registered vehicles
The HGV levy has to paid for vehicles weighing 12,000kg or more and driving on motorways or ‘A’ roads in the UK.It must be paid before entering the UK.Drivers can pay a daily, weekly, monthly or yearly rate depending on how long the journey will last. A day runs from 12:00am (midnight) to 11:59pm that same day. Non-UK HGVs can use the HGV levy payment service now to pay in advance for trips you will make from 1 August onwards.
Rates payable
HGV levy rates for newer vehicles – Euro 6 class or later.
HGV levy rates for older vehicles – Euro 5 class or older.
For UK registered vehicles, both the HGV levy suspension and restart in August will be applied automatically by DVLA.
by Border checks in Portugal
The Portuguese government has reinstated border checks until 00:00 on Monday, August 7.
The measure is connected with the World Youth Day, which takes place in Lisbon from the 2nd to 6th of August. In addition, access to and movement within Lisbon will be limited from 1-6 August.
by Romania introduces additional driving bans in response to a heatwave
The bans apply to vehicles with a GVW of over 7.5 t on sections of national roads in selected districts.
he ban is in effect between July 25 and 26 from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM on sections of national roads in the districts of Teleorman, Dambovita, Arges, Prahova, Giurgiu, Ilfov, Olt, Dolj, Mehedinti, Gorj, Valcea, Arad, Timis, Caras-Severin, Bacau, Vaslui Vrancea, Galati, Buzău, Brăila, Constanța, Tulcza, Ialomița and Calarasi.
The ban does not apply to:
• passenger transport;
• transport of live animals and perishable products of animal and vegetable origin;
• vehicles involved in emergency operations;
• funeral transports;
• postal transports;
• transport of first aid equipment;
• fuel distribution;
• transport of goods in controlled temperature;
• vehicles towing damaged vehicles;
• transports of water and food to disaster-stricken areas;
• transport of sanitary equipment in the construction industry by specialized vehicles used;
• transports of bottled water;
• transports of farm products;
• military transports taking part in multinational exercises.
by Quiet zone’ to be trialled on A20 in Kent
National Highways is to trial a ‘quiet zone’ on the A20 near Aycliffe in Kent in a bid to reduce noise pollution when the A20 TAP is holding cross channel freight heading to the Port of Dover.
The ‘quiet zone’ will run along a 1.3km stretch of the coastbound A20 leading up to the Port of Dover from the Courtwood interchange to Western Heights roundabout. HGV drivers will be informed that they should not use their horns between 11:30pm and 7am.
From the end of this week signs will be in place along the A20 to inform drivers of the ‘quiet zone’. National Highways will also be sharing the news with haulage groups and ferry operators, as well as working with Kent police to provide additional visibility and where necessary enforcement. Any HGVs not complying with the signage risk a fine of £60.
The Operation Brock contraflow system is currently also in place on the M20 in Kent ahead of the summer holidays and expected high passenger numbers. All HGVs heading for the Port of Dover or Eurotunnel must follow the signs to join Operation Brock at M20 junction 8.
Any EU-bound HGVs not complying with signage and trying to use another route to Eurotunnel or the Port of Dover risk a fine of £300. They will also be sent to the back of the queue by Police or enforcement agents, wasting time, fuel, and money. This includes trying to bypass the M20 by using the M2/A2 at Brenley Corner. All other coast bound traffic – including local freight and car drivers heading for the continent – should follow the signs and cross over to enter the contraflow on the M20 London bound carriageway.
by Kent: overnight closures of the A20
As part of National Highways work to repair and maintain the A20, they will soon be resurfacing between the CourtWood interchange and Western Heights roundabout.
The work will start on the evening of Monday 26th June and finish on the morning of Thursday 27th July and will take place overnight between the hours of 8 pm and 6 am. Work will be conducted on one carriageway at a time.
Closure information:
❗ Monday 26th June to Friday 7th July – full overnight closures of the A20 to coastbound between Court Wood, interchange and Western Heights roundabout from 8 pm until 6 am the following morning.
❗ Monday 10 to Wednesday 19th July and Monday 24 to Wednesday 26 July – full overnight closures of the A20 London bound from Western Heights roundabout to Court Wood interchange from 8 pm until 6 am the following morning.
A diversion will be in place via the B2011 and a256.
❗ Western Heights roundabout will also be closed overnight on Thursday 29 and Friday 30 June, and again overnight on Monday 3rd and Tuesday 4th July
by Belarus bans the use of trailers and semi-trailers registered in Poland
The ban comes into effect on July 3 and also applies to lorries performing international transport of goods in Belarus.
Affected vehicles are only allowed to move along the Belarusian-Polish section of the border. Polish trailers and semi-trailers may are allowed to enter places specially designated for for the purpose of reloading transported goods. A similar ban introduced in April 2022, applied to tractors registered in EU countries.
The measure comes in response to new restrictions imposed by Poland on June 1, which have extended the list of types of Belarusian and Russian HGV categories that are prohibited from entering the Polish territory.
by Romania introduces additional driving bans in response to a heatwave
The bans apply to vehicles with a GVW of over 7.5 t on sections of national roads in selected districts.
The ban is in effect between July 17 and 19 from 12:00 to 8:00 PM on sections of national roads in the districts of Teleorman, Dâmbovița, Argeș, Prahova, Giurgiu, Ilfov, Olt, Dolj, Mehedinți, Gorj, Vâlcea, Arad, Timiș, Caraş Severin, Bihor, Vrancea, Galati, Buzău, Brăila, Ialomița, Calarasi. ❗ On sections of expressways and motorways managed by CNAIR SA, traffic continues without any restrictions.
The ban does not apply to:
• passenger transport;
• transport of live animals and perishable products of animal and vegetable origin;
• vehicles involved in emergency operations;
• funeral transports;
• postal transports;
• transport of first aid equipment;
• fuel distribution;
• transport of goods in controlled temperature;
• vehicles towing damaged vehicles;
• transports of water and food to disaster-stricken areas;
• transport of sanitary equipment in the construction industry by specialized vehicles used;
• transports of bottled water;
• transports of farm products;
• military transports taking part in multinational exercises.