Promoting efficient, safe and green land transport
What does EU road transport policy want to achieve? Have a look at our web portal: "A Road Transport Strategy for Europe".
The aim of the European Union’s land transport policy is to promote mobility that is efficient, safe, secure and environmentally friendly.
The EU’s policy objectives for road transport are therefore to promote efficient road freight and passenger transport services, to create fair conditions for competition, to promote and harmonise safer and more environmentally friendly technical standards, to ensure a degree of fiscal and social harmonisation, and to guarantee that road transport rules are applied effectively and without discrimination.
The existing legislation applying to road transport services establishes common rules on access to the profession and to the market, sets minimal standards for working time, driving time and rest periods (including enforcement and the use of tachograph (devices) for professional road transport, and sets minimum annual vehicle taxes, as well as common rules for tolls and user charges for heavy goods vehicles. Moreover, it harmonises the maximum weights and dimensions of road vehicles. The Commission also promotes increasing the number of safe parking areas along the trans-European road network.
The most recent developments in the road transport market are described in the Road Freight Transport Vademecum (September 2011) and the most relevant statistics are available in the Transport PocketBook. In addition, the Commission adopted its Report on the State of the Union Road Transport Market (COM(2014)222) in April 2014.
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Almost 300 people per year die in crashes at level crossings, representing around 30% of all railway deaths.
The European Commission today adopted two implementing regulations as part of Mobility Package 1 to render checks for compliance with EU road transport rules more targeted and consistent throughout the EU.
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.
With traditional transport routes in the region now closed, the initiative seeks to secure supply chains, including food security, following Russia's unprovoked and unjustified aggression against Ukraine.
The European Commission published preliminary figures on road fatalities for 2021. An estimated 19 800 people were killed in road crashes last year. This was an increase of 1 000 deaths (+5%) on 2020, but still represents almost 3 000 (-13%) fewer fatalities compared to the pre-pandemic period
The European Commission has launched two public consultations, on future rules for driving licences and on the cross-border enforcement of traffic rules.