On Thursday, the police reported how potatoes had been dumped from two lorries driving on either side of the Great Belt Bridge on the E20.
Der er spredt kartofler i både vestlig og østlig retning på Lavbroen på Storebælt. I den forbindelse efterlyser vi vidner, som har set en lastbil tabe / læsse kartofler af. Ring 114. Oprydning pågår på broen, hvor der er nedsat hastighed til 50 km/t. Let kø må påregnes. #politidk https://t.co/MkKb1g4faX
— Fyns Politi (@FynsPoliti) June 1, 2023
At the time, the police suspected that the incidents must have been coordinated and organised by the same person or persons.
Later, reports emerged that the one of the drivers who had dumped the potatoes admitted he had indeed done so in protest at the government’s CO2 tax on trucks. He shall remain in custody for 14 days.
The stunt was obviously dangerous and also caused severe disruption; the motorway was closed at 5am for around 3 hours.
Since the incident on the E40, reports have also emerged of one or two similar stunts taking place elsewhere in the country.
The move comes amid continued fury over the Danish Government’s CO2 tax. Numerous hauliers, drivers and driver-owners across Denmark took part in blockade protests last month – despite the plans officially being cancelled by the original organisers.
Since then, Ministers have met with haulage industry representatives to discuss how to make it easier for the country’s road transport industry to decarbonise faster and cheaper. However, no concrete promises have come from this.
The situation has riled independent hauliers in particular, who fear the tax could bankrupt them when it enters into force in 2025.
A recent report by Jyllands-Posten stated that in the documents concerning the legislation of the tax, it is estimated that 1 in 10 Danish trucks will cease operating in the country due to the tax itself.
Photo: pxfuel.com