The European Association for Abnormal Road Transport and Cranes (ESTA) has voiced optimism over the inclusion of new rules to harmonize marking and lighting on heavy transport in the EU’s revised Weights and Dimensions Directive (96/53) that is currently being considered by the Council of Ministers.

ESTA has been campaigning for over five years to update international traffic regulations related to heavy goods vehicles. The association’s specialist working group developed detailed recommendations that were supported by the VDA, a leading German automotive industry association.

However, progress on these recommendations stalled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The association has now shifted its focus to the European Union’s proposed revision of the Weights and Dimensions Directive, which has received backing from the European Parliament and is currently undergoing consultation with the Council.

The revised directive contains measures to harmonise the numerous and complex rules governing abnormal transport, including a provision that Member States shall cooperate to “avoid the multiplicity of vehicle markings and signalling” alongside a proposed obligation on the European Commission to ensure that such a provision is implemented.

ESTA’s long-standing campaign on marking and lighting has been led by Iffet Türken, ESTA Section Transport President and Executive Board Member of trailer manufacturer Kässbohrer. `’This is very good news indeed and shows that we are slowly and steadily making progress, even though it is taking far longer than we would like,’ Türken said.

“The current situation is absolutely ridiculous. The rules for marking and lighting of abnormal transports are different in every EU country. Why is a side marking board in one country 50 x 50 cm and in another country 42.5 x 42.5 cm? ESTA is simply trying to introduce some unity and common sense here,” she said.

Apart from Türken, ESTA’s original working group comprised Tahsin Dogan from Kässbohrer; André Friderici of Switzerland-based Friderici Spécial and ESTA Section Transport President; Lars Schoedt of TII-Scheuerle; and Ambro Smit of Netherlands transport association TLN.