Federal Council StVG Blockade: BIEK Criticizes Missed Opportunity for Better Delivery Traffic

The Federal Association of Parcel and Express Logistics (BIEK) expressed its disappointment at the blockage of the reform of the Road Traffic Act (StVG) and the Road Traffic Regulations (StVO) by the Federal Council. The Federal Council had torpedoed the revised version of the law, which had been presented by Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) after long negotiations with the relevant ministries, states, and municipalities and after numerous compromises, following a surprising U-turn by some union-led states such as Bavaria on Friday. In Baden-Württemberg and North Rhine-Westphalia, the green-black and black-green coalitions could not reach an agreement and therefore abstained. Bavaria unexpectedly voted against it, although it had always advocated for more traffic safety. Non-approval was thus given by BW, BY, BB, HH, HE, NW, SN, and ST.

"We deeply regret that the Federal Council did not adopt the amendment to the Road Traffic Act today. As a result, the legal basis for the amendment of the Road Traffic Regulations and the introduction of the 'Loading Area' traffic sign, which we have long demanded, is also missing. Unfortunately, the Federal Council's blockade has prevented the modernization of traffic law," explained BIEK Chairman Marten Bosselmann.

He decided against creating improved conditions for the entire delivery traffic, the BIEK chief continued. The states had also done a disservice to climate protection, as loading areas have the potential to drastically reduce emissions in urban traffic.

"It is completely incomprehensible that, on one hand, people get upset about double-parkers, but on the other hand, obstruct measures that would precisely address this problem. This is politics that helps no one - neither the road users nor the parcel deliverers," criticized Bosselmann.