by HGV traffic restrictions in Tirol in the first half of 2023
The Tyrolean state government has planned 24 days on which cross-border HGV traffice will be restricted. This is 3 more than in the same period last year.
On theses days, from 05:00 AM the police will slow down HGV traffic at a designated checkpoint on the A12 near Kufstein Nord in the direction of Innsbruck and, if necessary, will stop it in order to make sure that only about 300 lorries arriving from Germany are allowed to cross the border per hour.
The restriction schedule for the 1st half of 2023
➡ January 9 (Monday)
➡ February 6 (Monday)
➡ February 13 (Monday)
➡ February 20 (Monday)
➡ February 27 (Monday)
➡ March 6 (Monday)
➡ March 13 (Monday)
➡ April 26 (Wednesday)
➡ April 27 (Thursday)
➡ May 2 (Tuesday)
➡ May 15 (Monday)
➡ May 16 (Tuesday)
➡ May 17 (Wednesday)
➡ May 19 (Friday)
➡ May 26 (Friday)
➡ May 27 (Saturday)
➡ May 30 (Tuesday)
➡ May 31 (Wednesday)
➡ June 1 (Thursday)
➡ June 3 (Saturday)
➡ June 5 (Monday)
➡ June 6 (Tuesday)
➡ June 7 (Wednesday)
➡ June 9 (Friday).
by Christmas and New Year restrictions for trucks in Catalonia
Owing to forecasts of significant increases in traffic volume on the 15th of December, 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 Fridays, December 23 and 30, 2022 and Thursday, January 1, 2023. at 15:00 – 21:00:
➖ On the AP-7 motorway, between km 126, exit 12B at La Roca del Vallès, Granollers and connection to the C-60, in the municipality of La Roca del Vallés, and km 172, exit 25 at Martorell and connection to the A-2, at the commune of Martorell;
➖ On the AP-7 motorway, on the Terres de l’Ebre section, where there are only two lanes, between km 257, exit 35 in Vila-seca, Salou, Reus S. and Port Aventura, in the municipality of Vila-seca, to km 344, 8 border between Tarragona and Castellón, in the municipality of Ulldecona.
On Sunday 25 and Monday 26 December 2022 and Sunday 1, Friday 6 and Sunday 8 January 2023 at 15:00 – 21:00:
➖ On the AP-7 motorway, between km 126, exit 12B at La Roca del Vallès, Granollers and connection to the C-60, in the municipality of La Roca del Vallés, and km 172, exit 25 at Martorell and connection to the A-2, at the commune of Martorell;
➖ On the AP-7 motorway, on the Terres de l’Ebre section, where there are only two lanes, between km 257, exit 35 in Vila-seca, Salou, Reus S. and Port Aventura, in the municipality of Vila-seca, to km 344, 8 border between Tarragona and Castellón, in the municipality of Ulldecona.
Vehicles exempt from the restrictions established in Resolution INT/956/2022 will also be required to comply with the restrictions referred to in the above information.
by Austria reintroduces border controls
Austria: checks at the internal borders with the Republic of Slovenia and Hungary temporarily reinstated.
In order to ensure peace, public order and security, in the period from 00:00 AM on 12 November 2022, to 12:00 PM on 11 May 2023, the internal land borders with the Republic of Slovenia and Hungary may only be crossed at border crossing points.
by Słowacja – wyjątek od zakazów
O zmianach poinformowało Prezydium Policji Republiki Słowackiej.
Ustanowiono ogólne zwolnienie z zakazu prowadzenia pojazdów w dniu 24 i 26 grudnia br. oraz 6 stycznia 2023r. Zwolnienie dotyczy wszystkich samochodów ciężarowych poruszających się po autostradach, drogach dla pojazdów mechanicznych, drogach klasy I i drogach ruchu międzynarodowego, przyjeżdżających na terytorium Republiki Słowackiej z niektórych krajów sąsiednich, których przeznaczenie (np. siedziba firmy lub miejsce rozładunku) znajduje się na terenie Republiki Słowackiej.
by Slovakia – an exemption from the HGV driving ban
The Presidium of the Police of the Slovak Republic has granted a general exemption from the HGV driving ban on the 24th and 26th of December and 6th of January, 2023.
The exemption applies to all heavy goods vehicles traveling on motorways, first class roads and roads with international traffic, arriving in Slovakia from some neighboring countries and heading for destinations (e.g. company headquarters or place of unloading) located within Slovakia.
by HGV restrictions in Catalonia
Owing to forecasts of significant increases in traffic volume on the 15th of December, 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, December 15, 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 Romania is planning to extend HGV driving bans
The National Union of Road Transporters from Romania (UNTRR) has launched a survey to find out drivers’ opinion about whether additional driving bans are necessary.
According to a report published by the European Transport Safety Council, in 2019 Romania was ranked last in terms of road safety, with the highest number of deaths per 1 million inhabitants (96 deaths, compared to the European average of 51).
Because Romania has fewer HGV restrictions, in addition to a higher risk of accidents caused directly or indirectly by lorries, at the beginning of each week, there are long queues at border crossings along the country’s western border. Currently, the waiting time at the border exceeds two hours because Hungarian customs officers and border guards are not able to handle such large numbers of vehicles from Romania and weekend HGV traffic is limited in Hungary.
The new legislation proposed by the Romanian parliament would introduce a driving ban for vehicles with a GVW above 7.5 t on the entire national road network:
– on Fridays from 3.00 PM to 9.00 PM;
– on Saturdays, from 09.00 AM to 9.00 PM;
– on Sundays, from 09.00 AM to 9.00 PM;
– on the eve of public holidays, from 3.00 PM to 9.00 PM;
– on public holidays, from 09.00 AM to 9.00 PM.
The draft law is in line with European legislation and the ban is similar or even more liberal than those that are in effect in other European countries.
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 Brock contraflow in Kent returns
The Operation Brock contraflow system on the M20 in Kent is being deployed ahead of the Christmas period and high passenger numbers at Dover and the Eurotunnel.
Operation Brock is part of a series of measures to improve Kent’s resilience and ensure the smooth flow of traffic through the region in the event of disruption to services across the English Channel.
Due to the deployment of Operation Brock, EU bound freight traffic will be using the coastbound carriageway on the M20 between Junctions 8 and 9 (from Ashford to Maidstone), where they will be queued and released when space at the Port of Dover or the Eurotunnel becomes available.
❗ HGV drivers travelling to Eurotunnel of the Port of Dover are reminded they must follow the signs and use the M20 and join Operation Brock at M20 junction 8. Any EU-bound hauliers not complying with signage and trying to jump the queue not only 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.
The M20 coastbound between junctions 7 and 9 will be closed
▶ from 8pm to 6am until Sunday, 11 December. It will then stay closed during the day and night on Sunday 11.
The M20 London bound between junctions 9 to 8 will be closed
▶ from 9pm on Thursday, 8 December until 6am on Friday, 9 December
▶ from 9pm on Sunday ,11 December until the following morning.
When the M20 reopens at 6am on Monday 12 December, the Operation Brock contraflow will be in place and all signs and signals should be followed. Fully signed diversion routes will be place while the M20 is closed overnight.
by Hungary: a derogation from the winter HGV driving ban
As was the case in previous years, from November 4, less polluting lorries (EURO-3-4-5-6 and EEVs) in international traffic are exempt from the winter HGV driving ban.
In winter, weekend and holiday driving bans apply only to the most polluting and domestic lorries, usually from 10:00 PM on Saturdays to 10:00 PM on Sundays.
Every winter (from November 4 to March 1), the Hungarian government issues a decree granting this derogation to all HGVs that comply with the EURO 3 standard or higher and are used for international transport, i.e. carry out a cross-border transport operation. As a result, these vehicles do not have to be parked at weekends and on public holidays in the winter months.