Safe, secure and comfortable HGVs parking areas: an Italian experience

Significant increase in European road freight transport and the existing regulations on driving time require a suitable number of parking areas along the European road network. These infrastructures should ensure the right level of safety and security to drivers and trucks. However, the parking areas planning, building and managing process for Heavy Good Vehicles (HGVs) is unclear and many differences exist on a country by country basis. The result is that the number of existing and planned infrastructures is far to be capable to satisfy driver demand for a safe, secure and comfortable parking. This paper focus on the problem of lack of safe, secure and comfortable HGVs parking areas in Lazio Region, Italy. In particular a detailed survey conducted to Local and Private Agencies operating in the study area, to Italian haulage companies and to truck drivers is shown in order to underline the critical aspects and the complexity of the problem.