Ministers bac 18.35m drawbars
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• Europe's transport ministers are likely to settle on an 18.35m drawbar limit when they meet on 17/18 December, following Germany's decision to change sides and swing towards the Commission's proposal.
Germany says it will back the plan if transit countries such as Switzerland and Austria agree to let the longer drawbars go across their borders.
So far, eight governments, including Britain's, have agreed with the Commission's move, which increases overall lengths by 0.35m but limits bed length to 15.35m, couplings to 0.7m and cabs to 2.35m.
The Commission has been keen to stamp out the growing trend of shorter cabs and couplings by operators wanting to get the maximum load space out of the present 18m limit Three countries, Denmark, Holland and Belgium, have asked the Commission for an overall length of 18.75m, but Denmark has said it will opt for the lower limit if Commissioners allow extendible couplings.
The Dutch, who have been pioneers of maximising bed length in drawbars with sleeper pods and telescopic couplings, have been particularly against any shorter limit.
But the voting system in the council — where countries such as Germany and the UK have more sway — is likely to mean that there are now enough backers to see the Commission plan through.
Trade bodies such as the International Road Transport Union and the Road Haulage Association support a 19m limit. The RHA says this is the shortest overall length to comfortably allow two 8.1m swap bodies.
But for political reasons — the public generally do not like laws allowing bigger trucks — the UK government has been reluctant to go against the Commission, argues the association.
Ministers were unable to settle on a compromise on drawbar lengths when they last met in October. However, the RHA is confident that they will agree on a 19m limit in the long run.
Meanwhile, a study on the impact of the Channel Tunnel on traffic flow is being carried out for the Commission, and should be ready by mid-1991.
EC transport commissioner Karel van Miert has also set up a working party to study the socio-economic effects of the project.
Van Miert has called for better roads and bridges to cope with an expected 40% rise in trade. "Let us be far-sighted enough to build the infrastructure we will need for this volume of trade and meet the great challenges of the environ-. ment, pollution and safety," he said this week.
The EC is spending nearly £12m on road improvements associated with the UK side of the Chunnel, including help towards completing the M20. Some £7m is being spent on the French side.