Speed limit increase
Early in 2011, the Minister of Infrastructure and the Environment started an experiment in which the maximum speed limit was increased from 120 km/h to 130 km/h on 8 motorway stretches in the Netherlands. According to the minister the experiment was a success. That is why she intends to increase the maximum speed limit on motorways to 130 km/h as of 1 September 2012. On nearly 60% of the Dutch motorway network the maximum speed limit will be 130 km/h during part of the day or all day long. The minister's motto is "faster where possible, slower where necessary", so she wrote in a letter to the House of Representatives on 28 Novebmer 2011.
130 kilometers
As of 1 September 2012 the new 130 km/h maximum speed limit will apply all day long on 39% of the Dutch motorways, whereas on 19% of the motorways dynamic speed limits will apply: on these stretches, people may drive 130 km/h during the evening and in the night only. The possibility of increasing the speed limit on other motorways will be examined over the coming months. Also discussed were the costs of extra baffle boards, longer acceleration lines and new traffic signs. Other issues discussed included carbon dioxide, nitrogen and fine dust emissions, road safety, noise pollution, traffic flow and the motorists' perception.
80 km/h zones
As of 1 July 2012 the minister also intends to abolish 4 of the 5 80 km/h zones around the four biggest cities of the Netherlands, where the maximum speed limit will be increased to 100 km/h again. According to the minister, evaluations have shown that in some cases the introduction of 80 km/h zones has caused adverse effects on the traffic flow. The debate on this issue mainly focused on the air quality implications around the big cities.
Road safety
Another issue of debate was the safety of road workers. Motorists sometimes ignore the red cross (lane closed) signals above additional lanes and rush hour lanes, which may cause serious road accidents. The minister wants the number of road casualties to be significantly reduced by 2020. Investments will be made in the improvement of roads that are currently accident-prone, including the extension of acceleration and deceleration lanes and the covering of obstacles along motorways. Traffic surveillance is to be intensified on motorways where the maximum speed limit is 130 km/h, for example through section control. Eventually, the fines for serious speeding offences are to be raised.
