Current Affairs Government pushes for broader restrictions on long-haul trucks
The country’s coalition government, made up of the Civic Democrats, the Christian Democrats and the Greens, has agreed on tightening restrictions in the Czech Republic on long-haul vehicles. On Wednesday, the cabinet met to discuss the issue, agreeing that large trucks should be banned year-round from Czech roads on Fridays between 3 and 6 pm, and Sundays until ten pm. The goal is to clear up traffic on Czech throughways and principal routes as well as to reduce deadly road accidents. But the news has many hauliers - long opposed to a ban on economic grounds - up in arms.
Martin Bursík, photo: CTK
Currently, the Czech Republic bans long-haul trucks – vehicles weighing
7.5 tones and more – only in the months of July and August – and only
for set hours on Friday and the weekend. That could change by the end of
2008. The government agreed, in principal on Wednesday on a ban to be
implemented year-round, a goal pursued strongly by the Green Party and its
leader Martin Bursík. The ban was key policy for the Greens ahead of the
last elections, and Mr Bursík has called introducing such legislation a
“major priority”.
“The ban will lead to improved travel on roads at the weekend, and will lower the level of noise pollution as well as the number of road accidents and fatalities.”
Transport representatives, caught off-guard by Wednesday’s developments,
struck back, with indications that they might consider protests and even
eventual blockades. That said, it is still early days. Many in transport
are hoping there will still be time to convince legislators that the
proposed ban will neither improve congestion nor lower the number of
accidents - especially on Fridays – a time when roads remain full of
motorists even after six pm. Another issue is over the projected economic
impact. But the head of Česmad Bohemia, Vladimír Starosta, representing
Czech hauliers, said on Wednesday there was no reason to panic, making
clear on Czech TV he was sceptical the proposed ban would ever pass.
“I am an optimist. If I wasn’t, I would never have taken part in the negotiations. At the beginning of the summer holidays we met with the prime minister at a meeting that was very positive. All of my life I have put stock in one’s word in negotiations, when you agree on certain steps.”
Aleš Řebíček
The Transport Minister Aleš Řebíček now has 30 days to hammer out the
legislation, which will then come up in Parliament. By then, many in the
transport sector hope the plans will have been derailed. They point that
the government’s decision in favour of broadening restrictions, came just
days before Green Party head Martin Bursík faces a leadership challenge at
his party’s congress. Talk of a truck ban could boost his chances at the
weekend but critics have suggested the move is simply a ploy by the prime
minister to help the party leader, saying that talk of the ban will later
quietly dissipate, put on the backburner.
