Road transport: maximum authorised dimensions and weights for certain road vehicles

The Committee on Transport and Tourism adopted the recommendation for second reading contained in the report by Jörg LEICHTFRIED (S&D, AT), on the Council position at first reading with view to the adoption of a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directive 96/53/EC laying down for certain road vehicles circulating within the Community the maximum authorised dimensions in national and international traffic and the maximum authorised weights in international traffic.

The committee recommended that the European Parliament should amend the Council’s position in first reading as follows:

Intermodal transport operation: the definition should cover:

the combined transport operations defined in Article 1 of Council Directive 92/106/EEC engaged in the transport of one or more containers or swap bodies, up to a total maximum length of 45 feet, or transport operations engaged in the transport of one or more containers or swap bodies, up to a total maximum length of 45 feet, using waterborne transport, provided that the length of the initial or the final road leg does not exceed 150 km in the territory of the Union.

Aerodynamic devices: these shall fulfil the following operational conditions:

·         in circumstances where the safety of other road users or of the driver is at risk, they shall be folded, retracted or removed by the driver;

·         their use on urban and inter urban road infrastructures shall take into account the special characteristics of areas where the speed limit is less than or equal to 50 km/h and where vulnerable road users are more likely to be present; and

·         their use shall be compatible with intermodal transport operations and, in particular, when retracted/folded, they shall not exceed the maximum authorised length by more than 20 cm.

On-board weighing equipment: this shall be accurate and reliable, fully interoperable and compatible with all vehicle types.

One year after the date of entry into force of the Directive, the Commission shall adopt implementing acts, laying down detailed provisions ensuring uniform conditions for the implementation of the rules on interoperability and compatibility.

In order to ensure compatibility with all vehicle types, on-board systems of motor vehicles shall have the capability to receive and process any data coming from any type of trailer or semi-trailer attached to the motor vehicle.

Review: the Commission should review the Directive 3 years after national rules are in place, taking into consideration certain market segments such as car transporters. Any legislative proposal must be duly accompanied by an impact assessment.