The German Bundestag sees no point in making systems similar to the RSAB legally mandatory, partly due to differing weather conditions across Europe.
Those of you who have been following my blog for some time will remember that I launched an online petition in February 2015 calling for systems that prevent ice sheet formation to become legally mandatory. Today, I received correspondence from the German Bundestag.
In a four-page letter, I was informed that the Petitions Committee had given the Bundestag the opportunity to review my request. The committee confirmed to the Bundestag that, in addition to conventional methods, there are already systems available that use an air hose to lift the tarpaulin roof of a trailer structure, allowing water masses to drain off so that no ice can form on the roof of a trailer.
It is understandable why the German Bundestag attributes this issue to the EU. In the letter, the committee points out that at the EU level, there are currently no considerations to introduce corresponding technical equipment regulations for removing ice from truck and trailer tarpaulins.
Furthermore, it is stated that the wide variety of different truck and trailer structures would make technical specifications difficult to implement; in addition, weather conditions vary significantly among EU member states.
This is also logical, since cross-border traffic does not exist. Regarding the variety of different structures, I was informed by the manufacturer of the RSAB’s that this system can be used on swap bodies and cargo boxes as well. Thus, for me, a technical specification is not difficult to implement.
And as for differing weather… Well, with these systems, one can not only prevent ice sheets from forming; even water masses such as those from rain do not form. In that sense, the system is essentially always applicable—not just in winter!
