EU transport ministers yesterday pledged to help truckers plan their routes through states which restrict weekend driving by agreeing to gather and distribute information on local rules.
But they rejected suggestions they should limit such local bans, intended to curb the disruption caused to rural communities by international juggernauts passing through.
Ministers also failed to reach agreement on extending provision for maximum working hours to self-employed drivers as part of the controversial revision of the working time directive.
The meeting followed a day of protests on Tuesday in which truckers blocked roads from Spain to the Channel rail link at Coquelles, and in Germany, demanding implementation of a Europe-wide rule cutting the work-week to an average 48 hours. Drivers yesterday also established roadblocks at nine border posts with Luxembourg.
The London-based International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) insists that many drivers are working 70-80 hours a week. "Fatigue is a public safety issue," the ITF general secretary, Mr David Cockroft, said. The union wants road transport to be brought under the scope of the directive, which aims to limit working hours to an average of 48 hours a week, with a maximum of 60 hours a week.
Ireland favours extending the directive, but has been concerned at the effect of local weekend bans on access by Irish drivers to remote markets.
Ministers also rejected the suggestion from Britain and France that they should postpone from April next the introduction of new noise standards for aircraft to allow further talks with the US which opposes the rules.
The "hushkits" issue has become controversial in Ireland because of the campaign by the McEvaddy brothers against the regulations. Yesterday, however, the Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke, backed those who opposed any further extension of the deadline.
