Brussels, 23/04/2003 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission is definitely toning down its ideas on harmonising traffic restrictions for goods vehicles in the EU, a very sensitive issue for European road hauliers. By adopting in the next few days a new draft directive, it is expected to renounce the setting of any limits to driving on weekends and holidays and make the proposal much more based on general principles. The draft communication explains that the new text will replace the draft directives presented in 1998 and 2002, which have practically not been looked at the Council given that, ""no Council Presidency has expressed the intention to seek to finalise the proposal".
The new draft intends to get Member States to respect the "proportionality" and "non-discrimination" principles when they introduce traffic restrictions due to "motives linked to road safety, public order or social or ecological reasons".
The Commission is also calling on Member States to notify it, "at least six months before the planned execution" of the planned restrictions. The Commission will have to decide on authorisations in a time limit set at four months. In emergencies, such as natural disasters, for example, the country will be able to limit traffic following notifications but without having to obtain the decision of the Commission. These provisions will apply to heavy goods vehicles of more than 3.5 tons.
The draft also intends to set up a "European road information mechanism", which will collect and diffuse data on traffic restrictions. This mechanism could also help in the collation and analysis of data available in national road information centres and on the traffic situation on the main trans-European highways.
Harmonisation of traffic restrictions was demanded essentially by bordering countries, according to whom limits (as they stand) hold up lorry traffic throughout the continent. France and Austria were the most wary about harmonisation. The new proposal "does not in any way restrict the current freedom (of the Member States) to put into place limits on heavy goods vehicles", insists the document.