Heavy vehicles face daytime heatwave limits on national roads
The National Road Administration (AND) announced driving restrictions for heavy freight vehicles on national public roads during extreme heatwaves. The measure aims to protect road surfaces from severe damage caused by high temperatures.
Restrictions apply to vehicles with a maximum authorized weight exceeding 12 tonnes. Affected vehicles cannot operate on national public roads between 10:00 and 20:00 when heatwave warnings are active.
Essential transport remains exempt
Emergency and essential services are exempt from the heatwave driving ban. Unrestricted movement continues for passenger transport, live animals, perishable produce, and emergency relief operations.
Exemptions also cover postal services, fuel distribution, funeral transports, and water and food deliveries to disaster-affected areas.
Additionally, specialized sanitation vehicles, bottled water transports, agricultural shipments, temperature-controlled goods, towing services, and military vehicles involved in multinational exercises may continue operating normally.
Protecting road infrastructure from severe damage
Engineers warn that high heat significantly weakens asphalt pavement. Heavy vehicles traveling during peak temperatures accelerate structural degradation, causing permanent ruts and road subsidence.
AND representatives emphasized that road damage endangers traffic safety and requires substantial additional expenditure for repairs and maintenance.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
