Dornauer urges easing Tyrol truck night ban

Georg Dornauer has called for a relaxation of Tyrol’s truck night-driving ban, proposing that trucks be allowed to travel continuously from 10 p.m. on Sundays in return for a night toll set at double the current rate. ORF reported that the former deputy governor, now an independent member of the Tyrol state parliament, made the proposal to the Austria Press Agency.

Dornauer said the change should apply to the Inntal and Brenner motorways and come with conditions including effective noise protection for residents and priority for zero-emission vehicles. He also called for existing exemptions for electric and hydrogen fuel-cell trucks to be expanded.

The night ban applies throughout the week, from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. on Sundays and public holidays, according to ORF. Dornauer said the Sunday truck ban ends at 10 p.m., leaving trucks only one hour to travel through Tyrol before the night ban begins. He argued that this contributes to queues on Monday mornings at the border and on the Inntal motorway.

Dornauer criticised the state government, led by Governor Anton Mattle of the Austrian People’s Party, saying it should act to address traffic congestion. He cited a truck queue this year that he said stretched about 100 kilometres from the Brenner Pass to Neumarkt in Italy.

His proposal comes as the European Court of Justice considers Italy’s transit complaint. The court is expected to rule later this year or early next year. The court’s Advocate General has recently said, among other points, that the night-driving ban is incompatible with EU law.

The Tyrol state government and Austria’s federal government have said they support maintaining the region’s transport restrictions. The state government has also said it has a contingency plan for the forthcoming court ruling, but has not disclosed its details.