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Unsafe Traffic Conditions on Motorways: Concerns Over Inadequate Truck Parking Spaces on Motorways in Eastern Germany
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Critics lash out at excessive truck parking on highways due to insufficient spaces - Critics slam congested parking areas on highways
A shortage of thousands of truck parking spaces along Germany's motorways has been brought to light by a check conducted by Auto Club Europa (ACE). The pressure on parking spaces often results in dangerous traffic conditions, particularly at night on the southern Berlin Ring (A10) and A24 in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
In Saxony, the Oberlausitz Nord rest area on the A4 near Bautzen saw an occupancy rate of 165%, while the Noethnitzgrund South and North rest areas on the A17 near Dresden were occupied at rates of 100 and 120%, with more than twice as many trucks counting as there were parking spaces.
"The battle for parking spaces starts around 5 pm," says Dirk Engelhardt, chairman of the Federal Association of Goods Transport, Logistics, and Disposal (BGL). The German government is working to alleviate bottlenecks, having increased the number of parking spaces since 2018.
ACE: Overcrowding at Rest Areas in Eastern Germany
Although ACE's truck count is a snapshot, it revealed overwhelming overcrowding at 31 checked rest areas in eastern Germany, with an occupancy rate of about 50%. On 21 of the 31 rest areas, specific traffic hazards were found, especially during the night, with trucks often parked in entrance and exit lanes, and some occupying spaces designated for cars.
Association: Parking Shortage Deserves Priority in Ministry Focus
According to a study by the Federal Highway Research Institute in 2023, there is a nationwide shortage of more than 19,500 regular truck parking spaces on motorways, with over 102,000 trucks parked overnight and parking opportunities for 82,490. The BGL considers the shortage of space to be more significant and estimates that around 40,000 parking spaces are missing. They urge the Ministry of Transport to prioritize the issue.
According to the Federal Ministry of Transport, approximately 3,000 parking spaces have been added since 2018, and telematic parking procedures are being introduced to optimize the use of parking areas.
- Motorway
- Car
- Traffic
- Parking space
- ACE
- Germany
- Rest area
- Saxony
- Dresden
- Eastern Germany
- Logistics
- Potsdam
- Auto Club Europa
- Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- Upper Lusatia
- Bautzen
Possible Solutions
While no specific plans have been detailed for eastern regions like Saxony and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, potential solutions include the implementation of telematic parking systems, national investments in truck parking infrastructure, private initiatives such as bookable parking systems, and the development of digital reservation systems. Additionally, integrating charging infrastructure for electric trucks could present an opportunity to address the parking shortage in tandem with the growing demand for electric vehicles.
- The current employment policy in the logistics and transportation industry needs reevaluation, considering the increasing demand for truck parking spaces due to the shortage in eastern Germany, as revealed by Auto Club Europa (ACE)'s study.
- With the finance sector playing a significant role in infrastructure development, it would be beneficial to prioritize employment policies that promote investments in truck parking infrastructure across the country, addressing the over 19,500 parking space deficit identified by the Federal Highway Research Institute in 2023.
