Swedes oppose 44-tonne size limits
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• A further blow to the chances of the EU's proposal to allow 44-tonners on six axles has emerged with Sweden asking the European Commission to shelve the plans.
Sources within the Commission say its draft directive is likely to be split, with the plan to increase maximum vehicle width to 2.55m going through (CM 24-30 March).
The Swedish government is worried that the proposed dimension limits at 44 tonnes— a maximum height of 18.35m and maximum width of 2.55m—stop far short of its own allowance of 60 tonnes on 24m combinations which have no height limits.
Swedish transport minister Mats Odell has told the
European Parliament's
Transport Committee that the limits proposals would result in a greater number of smaller trucks, causing more pollution and accidents.
He estimates that road deaths would rise by 1.4% a year— harming the Swedish Government's chances of getting a "yes" vote on its November referendum for EU membership.