The UICR is taking part in the following driver projects:
Study on Safe and Secure Parking Places for Trucks
The European Commission has launched a new project on safe and secure parking places for trucks in Europe. UICR is an active member of the advisory board and represents the driver interests in the project.
This study defines an action plan for safe and secure parking places for trucks. It has the objective to create the right framework for authorities and private developers who wish to establish certified safe, secure and connected parking places for trucks. This includes the need for accurate and reliable information regarding planning, operation and standardization processes and best practices.
By filling out the survey you have the opportunity to provide your input to our study to the European Commission. We are interested in your opinions, needs and requirements. Please forward the following link to your members and contacts.
http://sstpa.eu-study.eu/surveys/.
European Road Safety Charter
he European Road Safety Charter is an appeal and a driving force for all civil society organisations to provide a tangible contribution to increasing road safety in Europe. It is a forum and a platform for the signatories to exchange experiences and new ideas – across national borders – in their efforts towards greater safety on European roads. It is a manifestation of the responsibility that all stakeholders assume in order to achieve the common goal: halving the number of traffic fatalities by 2010
On 20 February 2007, the UICR signed the European Charter for road safety. For this reason the UICR is committed to improve actively the traffic safety. In the implementation of the Charter, the UICR is depending on the help of the member countries which are instructed to organise trainings and lectures for their members. More information about the European Road Safety Charter can be found here:www.paueducation.com/charter
DocStop
Rainer Bernickel
Europareferent
fürVerkehrssicherheit
More and more truck accidents happen because the driver tries to reach his destination despite illness. Time pressure, logistic obligations and the fear of job loss make the driver often ignore the signs of serious illness. The driver reaches for medications that he doesn’t know or consider the side effects of to treat symptoms rather than not complete his job. An inquiry with the truck drivers resulted in that 85% of all asked drivers with the medical provision on the road are not content. WHY? On the motorway there is no medical professional to visit and to find a doctor in the city with a 40 ton vehicle is a thing of impossibility. The European delegate and protector of this initiative Dr. Dieter L. Koch and initiator, leader and co-ordinator Mr. Rainer Bernickel have taken up this measure. After various preliminary discussions, the first hearing in the European Parliament in Brussels was held on March 29, 2007.
At this hearing the initiative was presented and it was decided that a pilot project would start for the time being in Germany only, with the thought to later expand the service throughout the whole of Europe. How is this to function? The driver announces his arrival at the rest area. Over a hotline the nearest physician is notified. If it is possible, the driver is brought to this physician and treated with priority, with the necessary medical supplies and again brought to the vehicle. Alternatively, the treatment could take place in specially adapted available rooms at the rest area. If no area can be made available at the rest area, containers are set up. If it is not possible for the drive to continue, the company is informed and if necessary the vehicle is taken to a holding yard. Currently cooperating: 47 Rest areas in Germany, 72 physicians and 16 hospitals from various areas of the country. In the pilot project team are also 19 independent medical practices. This is to contribute to lower the number of the traffic deaths in Europe substantially.
More information about DocStop as well as a list with medial help posts on the road can be downloaded here: www.docstoponline.eu or call the DocStop HOTLINE: 01805 – 112 024
SETPOS
ver 90’000 professional drivers are affected by crime. This causes an economic damage of over 8.2 billion Euros. UICR is working in a project for secure truck parking in Europe. With safety and security becoming more relevant across Europe, operators, drivers, forwarders and shippers will be pleased to hear of a new project being launched in June offering innovative solutions.
The SETPOS (Secure European Truck Parking Operational Services) Project is a European pilot project with the aim of developing a secure truck parking standard across Europe. On 12th June it is being launched at a brand new showcase site (Truck Etape) near Valenciennes, France. The project is launched as part of an initiative from the European Commission to improve security and working conditions in road transport. It brings together a wide array of influential organisations all of whom have a practical interest in the subject of secure truck parking. The SETPOS project involves a widespread alliance of partners across Europe who are already active in improving freight and security.
Jonathan James from Faber Maunsell is Project Coordinator for SETPOS and said “Secure parking is something hauliers across Europe have been calling for, for many years. Many truck stops claim to be secure, but drivers and operators have previously had no way of knowing if this is actually the case. The SETPOS project will create a single parking standard across the whole of Europe and will encourage truck stops to improve their security.” SETPOS will first define and validate the common requirements of secure rest areas across the EU, including agreeing a labelling, inspection and evaluation scheme. The next stage will be to construct secure parking areas in trans-border regions and upgrade existing rest places to demonstrate this standard. These sites will include:
- Valenciennes, France
- Woernitz, Germany
- Ashford, UK
- Uhrsleben, German
- Liege, Belgium
A robust Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) network, developed by Move and Park, will act as a focal point offering a guidance and reservation system, including an online database incorporating information on all available truck parking sites along the Trans-European road Network. This will form part of the wider aims of the project to demonstrate best practice and encourage safer truck parking throughout the EU. The organisation of the project is contracted to Faber Maunsell, a UK based consultancy specialised in international transport affaires. UICR is closely involved in the project to convey driver requirements. 50% of this 10.9 million Euro two year project is financed by the European Commission. The remaining 50% is contributed by the partners in the project.
A media event was held on 12 June at the site of the new truck stop that will be constructed near Valenciennes, France (to be operated under the name “TRUCK ETAPE Valenciennes” location : A2 motorway exit 20 “La sentinelle” ). Jacques Barrot, Vice President of the European Commission with special responsibilities for transport, attended the event and officially launched the project SETPOS. In a short and impressive speech Anne Jenson, a member of the EU parliament and initiator of the project, explained what we all liked to hear: “we owe this to our truck drivers, they make the wheels of Europe turn. For more information please read: www.setpos.eu
Leave a Reply
Want to join the discussion?Feel free to contribute!