Minister Reul asserted on the A2 highway: "Truck serves as a deadly weapon"
On a statewide control day on Friday, August 8, 2025, numerous trucks were inspected at the commuter parking lot on the A2 near Dortmund. This operation, involving over 750 deployment forces, was a part of a larger effort to ensure compliance with heavy vehicle regulations and improve road safety.
The NRW Interior Minister, Herbert Reul, emphasised the urgency of the situation, stating that heavy vehicles, if not properly used, can be instruments that can kill people. The operation, which controlled over 30 locations including motorways and inner-city streets, aimed to prevent accidents and increase safety in heavy traffic.
During the inspection, numerous violations were discovered. These included drivers without the appropriate driver's license and unsecured loads in trucks. The fine for improperly securing a load is 53.50 euros.
In 2024, the police in NRW discovered more than 35,000 violations of driving and rest times. Tragically, sixteen truck occupants lost their lives in accidents that year. To underscore the importance of addressing these issues, the NRW Interior Ministry published these figures.
The debate about intensifying truck controls and potentially increasing penalties for heavy vehicle violations is not limited to Germany. Across the EU, there is an ongoing public and political debate about improving safety in heavy vehicle operations. The high fines connected to truck drivers’ regulations—such as exceeding allowed driving hours or not respecting rest periods—have led to fines reaching over €42,000 for drivers and tens of thousands more for employers.
New penalties for disabling safety systems such as emergency braking are forthcoming. The Federal Ministry of Transport plans to enforce fines for truck drivers who disable the emergency braking assistant at speeds above 30 km/h; although the exact amount is not specified, the ministry aims for fines severe enough to discourage this risky behavior, with these rules expected to take effect in 2025.
Minister Reul has criticised the current fines for violations, considering them too low. However, no new fines or criticisms related to the fines for violations were provided in the sources. Compliance with rules and their enforcement is crucial, according to Reul.
The Technical Relief Agency (THW) provided infrastructure to carry out the large-scale operation, and buses were used to transport some police officers to the control point. Other authorities, such as the city treasury of Dortmund, were involved in the operation.
In 2024, there were around 48,000 controls conducted by the police in NRW. Nationwide, there were approximately 4,000 truck accidents with injuries or fatalities that year. The goal of these control days is to reduce these numbers and ensure a safer road environment for all users.
- The initiative to increase truck controls and penalties for heavy vehicle violations is not limited to Germany, as there is an ongoing debate across the EU about improving safety in auto-racing and transportation.
- The NRW Interior Minister, Herbert Reul, has criticized the current fines for violations, considering them too low, and has emphasized the importance of compliance with rules and their enforcement in the finance and sports industries, particularly in auto-racing and racing.
- In addition to the police, other authorities such as the city treasury of Dortmund and the Technical Relief Agency (THW) also played a role in enforcing compliance with heavy vehicle regulations and improving road safety in the finance and industry sectors.
