Text file: 10382.txt
author: jaka13
downvotes: 2
end consideration date: 2019-10-10
id: '10382'
number comments: 11
number views: 409
proposal type: Competent authority response
response: 'Response from the Ministry of Infrastructure


  We would like to start by recalling that at national level we are aware of the problems
  related to traffic safety and flow brought about by the growth of both passenger
  and freight traffic on motorways and expressways. Increased traffic congestion and
  congestion is particularly experienced on the on-ramps near major cities, especially
  during the morning and afternoon rush hours, when passenger vehicle congestion is
  also at its highest. It should be pointed out that congestion during peak periods
  is caused mainly by commuter migration, and it is therefore a misconception that
  it is transit traffic that causes peak congestion on roads around major cities.
  A recent study on traffic flows showed that, for example, only 22% of traffic on
  the Ljubljana ring road during the morning rush hour is transit traffic. The fact
  is that economic growth generates new jobs and new or additional flows of goods,
  and thus more traffic.


  We at the Ministry of Infrastructure have been working on the issue of increasing
  traffic flow on motorways for a long time. We have been confronted with proposals
  that are completely contradictory when it comes to restrictions on transit traffic
  of goods vehicles on Slovenian roads. On the one hand, there are demands for the
  complete liberalisation of freight vehicle traffic on motorways, and on the other
  hand, there are demands for further restrictions.


  Certain measures have already been taken in relation to the increasing transit freight
  traffic on motorways, some of which are still in the implementation phase.


  One measure that has certainly helped to improve traffic flow during the morning
  and afternoon rush hours is the ban on overtaking lorries. In addition, last year,
  the eastern Ljubljana ring road converted from a weaving lane to a carriageway,
  thus eliminating the congestion previously experienced in front of the Malence junction.


  It is also important to ensure that as much freight as possible is transported by
  rail, as this will reduce the number of freight vehicles on the Slovenian motorway
  crossroads. The removal of toll stations is also an important measure that will
  contribute to increased traffic flow on motorways and expressways. The conditions
  for their removal were established with the introduction of the electronic free-flow
  toll system for vehicles over 3,500 kg maximum permissible weight last year. The
  project to remove the toll stations is in its final phase.


  It should be recalled that in 2010, a measure was already introduced to adjust the
  toll rate for goods vehicles during the night period between 10 pm and 6 am. The
  aim of the measure was to encourage the use of the toll network during night time.
  This was a transport policy measure which did not "come to life" in practice, as
  traffic count data or other data from the motorway network operator showed that
  there was no significant increase in the volume of night-time freight traffic, despite
  the 10% reduction in the toll. The measure was abolished as of 1 October 2013 as
  it did not achieve the desired effects.


  A review of the publicly available comparative legal arrangements in some other
  EU countries (e.g. Austria, Italy, Croatia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, France,
  Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary) shows that reduced tolls for freight vehicles are only
  applied in Austria (between 10 pm and 5 am) and in the Czech Republic (on Fridays
  between 3 pm and 8 pm). Taking this into account, it can be concluded that the measure
  of adjusting the level of the toll for freight vehicles according to the time of
  day is not widespread.


  Traffic congestion at peak times is a pressing problem not only in Slovenia, but
  also elsewhere in Europe. It is important that measures are not only transit-oriented,
  as this will not solve the problem. The problem must be tackled systemically, in
  parallel with measures in the areas of public passenger transport and rail and road
  infrastructure.


  Despite the measures taken, we are still not satisfied with the situation, and we
  are monitoring the situation closely at national level in order to find solutions
  that would contribute to relieving the pressure on the road network. One of the
  possible solutions is to adjust the level of the toll for freight vehicles according
  to the time of day. This is a measure that is allowed by law, but its impacts and
  effects need to be studied and a broader social consensus needs to be reached before
  a decision can be taken to introduce it.'
response date: 2019-10-25
response due date: null
sent date: 2019-09-11
title: Restriction of goods vehicle traffic
upvotes: 15
url: https://predlagam.vladi.si/predlog/10382
