Protecting lorry drivers and their cargo: European Commission adopts EU standards for safe and secure parking areas

The European Commission today adopted new EU standards and procedures to support the development of a network of safe and secure parking areas throughout the EU. The initiative is intended to improve resting conditions for drivers, and to protect them from violence and cargo crime.

European Commissioner for Transport Adina Vălean, said: "Our road network lacks sufficient safe and secure parking areas. Today we take concrete steps to ensure that professional drivers in the EU can work and rest in good conditions alongside European roads. The standards we adopt today will, in addition to ensuring drivers have access to all necessary facilities, also enable operators to select the level of security they need for their cargo. They complement our proposal to revise the Trans-European Transport Network, in which we require Member States to ensure safe and secure parking areas along the TEN-T network, a maximum of 100km apart. The importance of professional drivers for society cannot be overstated. It is essential that we offer them decent and safe working conditions."

The new EU standards categorise parking areas according to four security levels: bronze, silver, gold and platinum. This will allow operators to choose the level of security that they need according to the value of the goods they are carrying.

The security standard is defined by the security of the 1) perimeter, 2) parking area, 3) entry/exit points and 4) staff procedures. For instance, a certified bronze parking area can secure a site through video surveillance of certain areas, while a platinum parking area is monitored by staff on site at all times, using additional security measures, such as licence plate recognition technology at entry and exit points.

Regardless of the level of security, a safe and secure parking area must also ensure that drivers have access to all necessary facilities, such as showers, toilets, facilities to purchase food and drinks, and internet connection.

Background

In 2019, a Commission study identified a lack of 100,000 overnight parking spaces for heavy-duty vehicles, as well as a lack of safe and secure parking areas: of the 300,000 available spaces, only 7,000 are located in certified secure parking areas.

To meet the demand, the Commission is financing the development of safe and secure parking areas through the Connecting Europe Facility for transport (CEF). Between 2014 and 2019, 65 parking areas were selected for support, either for the upgrade of existing parking areas or for the construction of new ones. The 2021 CEF Transport call for proposals makes additional €250 million available to support further projects across the EU.

In December 2021, the Commission also proposed a revision of the TEN-T regulation, introducing an obligation for Member States to ensure that safe and secure parking areas are available along the TEN-T network, with a maximum distance of 100km between each.

Next steps

The Commission will notify the European Parliament and the Council of today’s delegated act. It will then enter into force if neither raises an objection within two months of notification.

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