THE CURRENT SITUATION
It was published in the Official Journal of the European Union No. L170/27 on June 28, 2022, the new EU Regulation 2022/1012. This provision aims to reorganize parking areas by providing a series of essential characteristics and services that these areas must have in order to be suitable to replace the sleeping cabin during the regular weekly rest period as required by Regulation (EC) No. 561/2006.
According to Article 8 of Regulation No. 561/2006, drivers of vehicles used for road transport must observe daily and weekly rest periods. These rest periods are often spent along the route, particularly when drivers are engaged in long-distance international transport operations. It is therefore of utmost importance that drivers have access to parking areas where they can rest safely, equipped with adequate facilities to access the services that drivers need.
Article 8a, paragraph 1, of Regulation No. 561/2006 lists the requirements that parking areas accessible to drivers transporting goods and passengers by road must possess to be certified as safe and secure in relation to their service and safety levels.
In order to improve the working conditions of drivers of vehicles used for road transport, a common minimum level of services should be available in all safe and secure parking areas, but a 2019 study by the Commission on the parking areas of the Union recognized a strong shortage of such facilities. To encourage the establishment of these areas and especially to equip them with uniform characteristics, it was deemed necessary to establish a common framework at the European level with clear and harmonized characteristics for their implementation.
PARKING AREA FEATURES:
The Regulation establishes that all areas must have and make available to drivers a minimum level of services and in particular:
- showers;
- restrooms;
- electricity supply;
- contact spaces and for the activation of emergency procedures;
- vending machines for food and drinks;
- internet connection
In addition to this, the parking areas will be classified into four categories: bronze, silver, gold, platinum depending on the level of security that they will guarantee in each of the following categories
- perimeter and fencing;
- parking area;
- telematic control of entry and exit points;
- procedures for staff.
It is finally specified that the security personnel operating in the parking areas must be periodically trained and that individual national legislations may eventually establish further training requirements.
It is reported in closing ANNEX I and ANNEX II, containing respectively the exhaustive list of all the required characteristics for the different categories bronze, silver, gold, platinum and the entire specific certification procedure provided.