Highways' "Small Wars": A Scramble for Truck Parking Spots in Germany? Auto Club Insists on Alleviating Overcrowding
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Fights erupting over truck parking spaces attract criticism from the automobile club due to overcrowding issues - Rivalry over limited truck parking spaces escalates into a minor conflict.
Headaches and chaos on Germany's highways? That's right! Thousands of truck parking spots are mysteriously vanishing, putting road safety at risk, according to the Auto Club Europa (ACE). In a survey conducted from April 15 to June 3, the traffic club counted the number of trucks parked on highways daily at 20:30. The situation was particularly precarious on the A10 in Eastern Germany, particularly in Berlin and Potsdam, and the A24 in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern due to improperly parked trucks.
"By 4-5 PM, the fight for parking spots kicks off," contends the chairman of the Federal Association of Freight Transport, Logistics, and Disposal, Dirk Engelhardt, describing the intense competition. The German government acknowledges the problem and emphasizes that the number of parking spots has increased consistently since 2018.
ACE Reveals Overcrowding in Eastern Germany
Although ACE's truck count is a snapshot, its findings show drastic overcrowding at 31 rest areas in Eastern German states. A total of 2,168 parked trucks were counted, while there are only 1,412 parking spots available, resulting in an overcrowding rate of approximately 50%. At 21 out of the 31 analyzed rest areas, hazardous traffic conditions, particularly during night hours when visibility is limited, were reported by the ACE. Trucks frequently parked in the entry and exit lanes, while some were found on parking spaces reserved for cars. Remarkably, there were no trucks parked on the shoulder of any rest area during the control.
Rest Areas on A10 and A24 Highlight Concerns
The rest areas Fichtenplan Süd on the A10 and Stolpe Nord on the A24 drew concerns due to several hazardous conditions, reported by the ACE. The count of parked trucks at rest areas was prompted by the "Day of Traffic Safety" on June 21. The count was conducted weekdays, excluding weekend standstill times of trucks. The nationwide results will be presented on June 18.
Truck drivers often lack access to sanitation facilities due to the dearth of parking spots, the BGL association grumbles. Vehicles parked at entry and exit lanes of rest areas also pose dangers to drivers and other road users.
The association proposes extending parking spots off the highways and simplifying approval procedures. Truck parking spaces should be a mandatory feature in the planning of new industrial areas, according to Engelhardt.
Are More E-charging Stations Exacerbating the Problem?
The association fears that the problem may worsen in the upcoming years due to the growth of electric charging infrastructure for trucks. "This could mean that three parking spots without a charging station would become two parking spots with a charging station," Engelhardt proposes.
According to a 2023 survey by the Federal Highway Research Institute, there are over 19,500 regular truck parking spots missing nationwide on and off German autobahns. The number of trucks parked overnight exceeds 102,000, while the institute lists 82,490 parking spots.
The Federal Association of Freight Transport, Logistics, and Disposal estimates the parking shortage to be more significant, approximating around 40,000 missing spots. They call for this issue to be prioritized in the Ministry of Transport.
The Federal Ministry of Transport claims that 3,000 new parking spots were added between 2018 and 2023. Additionally, telematic parking systems are being introduced to optimize the utilization of parking areas.
To combat overcrowding, considerations might include:
- Building more advanced parking facilities that include electric charging stations
- Implementing dynamic parking management systems that provide real-time information about available parking spots and charging stations
- Encouraging the use of swap trailers like MANSIO's solution or implementing flexible working hours for truck drivers to reduce the demand for overnight parking
These strategies should be integrated with existing infrastructure and regulatory frameworks to address the issue effectively.
- Autobahn
- Car
- Traffic
- Rest area
- ACE
- Auto Club Europa
- Overcrowding
- Germany
- Parking spot
- Logistics
- East Germany
- Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
- Dirk Engelhardt
- Berlin
- Potsdam
- Smart Parking Solutions
- The industry of smart parking solutions could alleviate the overcrowding crisis on Germany's highways, particularly in Eastern Germany, by developing advanced parking facilities equipped with electric charging stations.
- Financial investments in the construction of additional parking spots and implementation of dynamic parking management systems, such as telematic systems, could contribute to optimal utilization of parking areas and improve road safety in the transportation sector, focusing on the automotive industry.
