New behemoths on our roads soon? Anyway, this is what seems to be taking shape. Indeed, the European Parliament gave the green light on Tuesday, March 12, to the movement of mega-trucks on EU roads.
A closed vote (330 votes for, 207 against) that opens the way to these huge trucks are 25 meters long and weigh 60 tonsbut the adoption of which is pending approval by the member states.
What are the advantages of mega trucks?
Proponents of these sliding trucks boast their economic and environmental assets. Indeed, they will allow more goods to be transported in fewer trips, thus reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.2. However, mega trucks face strong opposition. Rail players fear increased competition, while environmentalists worry about the impact on the environment and road safety.
The European Commission, for its part, promises reduction of CO emissions by 1.2%.2 related to freight transport and significant savings for carriers due to better harmonization of standards and increased load capacity per trip. In other words, trucks will be larger, fewer in number, and will carry more cargo. This will also avoid the need to use smaller trucks, which are usually not quite full. Isabel García Muñoz, the responsible member of the European Parliament for Spain, guarantees that these giants will be accompanied by a “European label”, guaranteeing their environmental performance.
Several points of friction
It was enough for environmental parties to see the color red. In particular, they include three key points:
- Traffic jams : the main concern is the increase in traffic jams on the roads, which are already saturated in some countries.
- Impact on the environment : Critics point out that increased traffic could negate potential environmental benefits.
- Traffic safety : the longer braking distance of these trucks raises concerns about the risk of accidents, not to mention the size and blind spots.
The text adopted by the European Parliament will now be discussed with the member states. Then each country will have the right to veto the movement of mega-trucks on its territory.. There is a strong opposition in France. The issue of adaptation of road infrastructure and risks for road safety is at the center of discussions.
The French government’s final decision will be scrutinized by transport stakeholders and environmentalists.
Source: Auto Plus
Robert is an experienced journalist who has been covering the automobile industry for over a decade. He has a deep understanding of the latest technologies and trends in the industry and is known for his thorough and in-depth reporting.