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Photo credits @ Swedish Transport Administration

34-metre-long vehicle sets to be allowed on Swedish roads from December

From 1 December, vehicle combinations with a maximum length of 34.5 metres will be allowed on almost 600 kilometres of national roads in Sweden, the Swedish Transport Administration has announced.

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Pölös Zsófia

Pölös Zsófia

Journalist Trans.info

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6.11.2023

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The regulations for the longer vehicle combinations are not uniform throughout the country, but vary from county to county, explains transport news portal trailer.se. Each county’s regulations specify which roads are now open to vehicle combinations up to 34.5 metres.

The change reflects a long-standing plan by the Swedish Transport Administration to initially designate 450 kilometres of roads for these longer vehicle combinations. In addition, the regulations cover some 140 kilometres of national trunk roads and a significant network of local roads used for transport to and from various industries and logistics facilities, the article adds.

For the interactive map, click on the image. Credits @ Swedish Transport Administration

For road operators, such as the Swedish Transport Administration or municipalities, to authorize the use of extended truck combinations of up to 34.5 meters in length, there is a prerequisite that specific vehicle standards be established.

These specific vehicle standards, as outlined in the regulations, set forth a comprehensive framework for the safe and efficient operation of extended truck combinations on Swedish roads. The requirements encompass several key aspects, including the following:

  • the regulations specify that these extended vehicle combinations should adhere to either the ‘A-dubbel’ or ‘AB-dubbel’ configurations;

                                          Image credits @ Swedish Transport Administration
  • the regulations establish guidelines for the number of axles on the truck and trailers, taking into account the overall weight of the convoy;
  • the standards include provisions for safety measures such as electronic braking systems with anti-lock functionality, automatic brake adjustment, and stability systems, ensuring the safety of the convoy and other road users;
  • the regulations require the trucks to be equipped with features that enable the driver to have adequate visibility of the convoy’s right side from the driver’s seat;
  • specific requirements regarding the coupling devices used in these combinations, including standards for D-values, V-values, and DC-values as per ECE-reglemente 55;
  • vehicle combinations must display appropriate signage both at the front and rear of the convoy, meeting specific design criteria for retroreflectivity, size, and positioning;
  • the regulations provide certain exceptions, particularly concerning axle distances based on road classifications and weight limits.

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