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Trucks in Denmark will be able to spend up to 25 hours in parking lots. The new regulation will come into force this summer

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Last week, the Danish Parliament approved a new regulation, according to which truck drivers in Denmark will not be able to park the vehicle in the parking lot for more than 25 hours. The ban will restrain the traffic of lorries towards Scandinavia.

From July 1, 2018, a new ban will enter into force in Denmark. It states that truck drivers will not be able to park the vehicle in parking lots and motels along highways for more than 25 hours. In practice, this means that a 45-hour rest in truck is forbidden on the roads in Denmark. The Danish police will deal with the enforcement of the new rules.

Strict fines

From the beginning of next year we should also expect higher fines in Denmark. The penalty for illegal parking will increase from 510 to 2 thousand Danish kroner (approx. 270 Euro). The fines for parking at the entrance or exit of the parking lot will also be more severe – from 1 thousand up to 3 thousand Danish kroner (approx. 400 Euro).

Fighting the nomadism

At the beginning of this year, we informed that the Danes wanted to end the „nomadism” on the roads. The introduction of new provisions is the result of the judgment (C-102/16) of the Court of Justice of the European Union, which fell at the end of last year and which confirms that a regular weekly rest period should not be taken in the vehicle.

I am glad that we have found a way to fight the nomadic conditions of work, taking into account the practical problems and challenges facing the transport industry” – announced the Danish Minister of Transport, Ole Birk Olesen.

According to Olesen, „it is not the task of the state to provide free facilities for the transport industry that will satisfy their need for a place for longer stays.”

Danish carriers criticize the ban

The new ban was met with great disapproval on the part of Danish transport companies:

The regulation makes transport to and from Denmark difficult, because the time limit is not in line with the rules governing drivers’ rest periods” – comments Michael Svane from the Dansk Industri Association for danskindustri.dk.

Martin Aabak from the Shipper Association also criticizes the rules:

It is not a solution. Problems with parking will be transferred to municipal roads. Finally, prices will increase for Danish companies that import and export.”

In addition, Aabak doubts that the ban would comply with EU rules – we read on the Danish transport portal, transporttidende.com.

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