by Sweden: overtaking ban for lorries
From January 20, lorries with a GVW over 3.5 tonnes are forbidden from overtaking other vehicles on the E4 and E4/E20 motorways between Södertälje and Arlanda. The purpose of the ban is to improve road safety and accessibility for emergency vehicles.
The overtaking ban, already in place between Arlanda and Glädje and between Hallunda and Moraberg, has been extended for the entire section from Södertälje South to the Arlanda. The motorway section affected by the overtaking ban has thus increased by nearly 50 km.
by Spain: new tolls on the N-1 and A-15
From Monday, January 23, the electronic toll collection systems on these two motorways have started charging tolls.
The rate is EUR 0.22/km for lorries with a GVW over 3.5 tonnes and less than 12 tonnes and EUR 0.28/km for lorries with a GVW over 12 tonnes. More eco-friendly vehicles can benefit from the following discounts:
• 25% for electric vehicles and those powered by gas or hydrogen
• 20% for EURO 6 lorries
• 15% for EURO 5 lorries
The above discounts apply on the N-1, A-15 and A-636 motorways from January. On the AP-1 and AP-8 motorways, they will be introduced from October, but it will be possible to claim them retrospectively from the moment the documentation required by the BIDEGI infrastructure agency has been approved and an on-board unit has been registered.
In addition, vehicles such as tow trucks will be eligible for a frequent driver discount, up to 13%, on all major motorways within the province. This discount will come into effect from October.
by Additional winter driving ban in Tyrol on the A12 and A13
By virtue of the 3rd regulation of the Federal Minister for Climate Protection, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology, issued on January 5, 2023, a HGV driving ban has been introduced on certain Saturdays in winter 2023
The restriction applies to heavy goods vehicles, articulated vehicles with a maximum authorized mass above 7.5 tons or lorries with trailers whose combined MAM is above 7.5 tons. The ban applies between 7:00 AM and 3:00 PM on all Saturdays from January 7 to March 11 to vehicles bound for Italy on the A 12 and A 13 motorways if the destination is located:
• in Italy or in a country that can only be reached via Italy;
• in Germany or a country that can only be reached via Germany.
by Italy’s petrol station operators to stage 48-hour strike
The strike is scheduled to start today (Jan, 24) at 7:00 PM and will continue until the same time on Thursday (Jan, 26).
The strike is a protest against the government’s measures to fight the rise in fuel prices, including daily inspections of fuel prices to detect possibly unjustified price increases and the requirement imposed on operators to publish the average price per litre from their region in addition to the price of petrol charged at their pumps.
After failed negotations with the government, the trade unions Faib, Fegica and Figisc-Anisa have called a strike.
During the strike, drivers will not generally be able to refuel, even at self-service stations, though some pumps will remain in operation. In addition, petrol stations directly operated by the oil companies could also remain exempt from the strike.
by Italy: Possible fuel shortages for 72 hours
According to press report, unionized fuel station managers plan have called a nationwide strike from 13 to 16 December.
Unless averted, motorists and haulers using the motorway network will not be able to purchase fuel at service stations. The action may prompt panic buying of fuel before it starts, which in turn may lead to fuel shortages. It may also prompt congestion around fuel stations close to motorway junctions.
The strike is scheduled to last from 10:00 PM on December 13, to 10:00 PM on December 16. However, it may be suspended or called off if the protesters get a chance to start talks with the government.
by Complete closure of the A7 north of Hamburg
Due to maintanace work on the high-voltage line, the A7 motorway will be completely closed in both directions between the Kaltenkirchen and Bad Bramstedt exits on Sunday, January 22, from 8:00 to 12:00.
Traffic towards Hamburg is diverted at the Bad Bramstedt junction (17) along the U 66, and towards Flensburg at the Kaltenkirchen junction along the U 45.
In addition, the following diversions are recommended for long-distance traffic: from the A7/A1 Horster Dreieck junction (37) south of Hamburg or from the A1 at the Buchholzer Dreieck junction (43) and then along the A1-A21-B205 to the Neumünster-Süd junction (15) or in the opposite direction for north and south-bound traffic. The diversion is indicated by variable message signs placed along the route.
by Eurotunnel Freight: temporary overnight service suspension
Owing to the annual bi-national safety exercise involving the French and British authorities Eurotunnel Freight services will be temporarily suspended during the night of 21st to 22nd of January.
Listed below are the times corresponding to the last and first Fright shuttle departures.
The LAST freight shuttle departure on Saturday night will be:
→ From Folkestone: at 21:54
→ From Calais: at 22:53
The FIRST freight shuttle departure on Sunday morning will be:
→ From Folkestone: at 05:23
→ From Calais: at 06:23
If you wish to travel on the last departure please check-in no later than 60 minutes before the planned departure time.
by Russia: ban on foreign transport entry and transit
The Russian authorities have extended the restrictions introduced on October 10, 2022 until June 30, 2023.
Regulation No.2466, dated 28 December 2022, which changes the previous regulation No. 1728 of September 30, 2022, extends the ban on foreign transport entry and transit, which applies to road carriers from EU Member States, Ukraine, Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Norway.
The ban applies to:
◾ bilateral transports,
◾ transit,
◾ transport to or from a third country.
The ban does not apply to the following cases of cross-border transportation:
✅ postal transport,
✅ diplomatic pouch and consular valise,
✅ humanitarian aid,
✅ goods entering through the Belarusian-Russian border,
✅ goods in trailers and semi-trailers, registered in foreign states, towed by vehicles registered in Russia or Belarus.
As before, transhipment of goods to Russian or Belarusian vehicles, or trailer/semitrailer swap to Russian or Belarusian vehicles, provided these transport operators have permits for the preceding and/or subsequent leg, if relevant, and vice versa is allowed only in designated customs controlled areas located in:
▶ Kaliningrad region (all municipal districts),
▶ Leningrad region (Vyborg municipal district, Kingishepsk municipal district),
▶ Murmansk region (the city of Murmansk, Pechensk minicipal district, Kola district, Kandalagh district),
▶ Pskov region (the city of Pskov, Sezhsky district, Pechory district, Askilovsky district),
▶ Republic of Karelia (Kostomuk municipal district, Lakhdenponsky district, Lakhsky district, Sortavali district),
▶ St. Petersburg.
In addition, the amount of fuel in the tanks of foreign freight vehicles exiting Russia must not exceed 200 litres.
by 13 January – HGV restrictions in Catalonia
Owing to forecasts of significant increases in traffic volume on the 13th of January, an additional restriction will be introduced on some road and motorway sections for vehicles or combinations of vehicles with a maximum authorised mass of more than 7.5 tons, which are required to use the right lane and must not overtake other vehicles and drive faster than 80 km/h.
On Friday, January 13, between 3:00 PM and 9:00 PM, the restrictions will apply on the following road sections:
➖ the AP-7 motorway, between KP 126, exit 12B at La Roca del Vallés, Granollers and the junction with the C-60 in La Roca del Vallés, and KP 172, exit 25 at Martorell and the junction with the A-2 in the Martorell commune;
➖ the AP-7 motorway in the territory of Terres de l’Ebre, where there are only two lanes, between KP 257, exit 35 at Vila-seca, Salou, Reus S. and Port Aventura, in the municipality of Vila-seca, and KP 344,8 the border between Tarragona and Castellón, in the municipality of Ulldecona.
by Closures of the Mont Blanc Tunnel from January to March
The schedule of tunnel closures.
Possible inconveniences can be expected in the hour preceeding the closure and in the hour following the reopening of the tunnel, due to the transit of any vehicles under escort.
JANUARY
from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM
– January 11/12
– January 12/13
– January 16/17
– January 17/18
– January 18/19
– January 19/20
– January 23/24
– January 24/25
– January 25/26
– January 26/27
FEBRUARY
– February 6/7 from 7:00 PM to 6:00 AM
– February 7/8 from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM
– February 8/9 from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM
– February 9/10 from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM
MARCH
from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM
– March 13/14
– March 14/15
– March 15/16
– March 16/17.