Going in search of safer havens
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An EC-backed scheme to raise the standards of truckstops should, from this summer, allow drivers to bed down in safer and more comfortable surroundings.
Words: Patric Cunnane
From this summermcv drivers in Europe should be able to park in truckstops that are not only secure and comfortable, but have been awarded a blue flag to acknowledge that fact.
June is the target date for at least 75 such truckstops to open as part of the LABEL scheme with up to 12 in the UK. Many will have been in existence for some time, but will have applied to meet the new standards set by this European Commission (EC) initiative. The scheme is, in part, intended to tackle the increasing menace of truck crime, often involving attacks on drivers.
Danish MEP Anne Jensen has been instrumental in driving the scheme forward from its pilot in 2008. Together with other MEPs on the European Parliament's Transport Committee, she lobbied the EC to provide €5.2m (£4.6m) money for a pilot scheme, known as Secured European Truck Parking Operational Services (SETPOS). As a consequence, five super truckstops, including sites in the UK, France, Germany and Belgium were opened.
Decent conditions She is, however, worried that the original standards agreed will not always be met. "I have discussed it with transport commissioner Sum Kailas," she says. "I am afraid of a stepping down from the SETPOS standards. They must provide good and decent conditions for drivers, as well as safe parking."
She cites the French truckstop at Valenciennes as an example of best practice. "It has very good conditions for drivers and it's also financially successful," she says. The LABEL scheme, which is supported by €2.7m (£2.4m) of EC funds, is run by Dutch operation NEA Transport Research and Training.
One of the key questions is if the target of 75 accredited truckstops will be met by June?
-We will probably be very close," says Rob Leeuw van Weenen, project manager for LABEL.
He adds that 75 truckstops have been selected from those that sent in applications and audits have been performed. "Last week, our advisory board met in Munich to discuss the applications," he explains.
It is likely that up to 12 will be selected in the UK with Germany and the Netherlands being the other two largest groups. "The size of a country and its traffic plays a role in the emphasis on secure parking," he continues.
Europe-wide sites The sites will be based in at least 10 EU countries. LABEL points out that while high-end security and quality truck parking areas will be part of the 75, there will also be room for less-ambitious sites. A variety in rating allows for a range of security and quality levels, from unserviced areas to high-quality and/or security sites. Sites that win accreditation will need to provide:
• a balanced geographical coverage of parking along the Trans-European road network; • diversity in terms of quality and security options.
Auditors Dekra, Atlantis and ADAC have visited sites to determine the rating, and, in time, issue a certificate. The findings will lead to the fine tuning of future standards.The successful sites will be awarded points under five headings: • Comfort and dignity • Safety • Security • Services • Food and shopping.
Secure and quality The security and safety ratings of the truckstop are denoted by locks and the others by stars. The EC has drawn up a definition of two types of sites: secure and quality rest places.
• A secure rest place provides an appropriate number of parking slots that are equipped with security means adequate to the specific risk assessment of the parking area concerned.
• A quality rest place provides an appropriate number of parking slots equipped with adequate facilities for long rests for drivers of heavy-duty vehicles. •