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Roll-out of 130km/h speed limit hits the skids

Plans to raise the speed limits on nearly 60 per cent of Dutch motorways to 130 km/h are being scaled down because of environmental concerns.

Several stretches of the A2, A12, A20 and A27 need stricter pollution control measures before the limit can be increased, but Parliament says it is unwilling to make funding available.

It is the latest setback for transport minister Melanie Schultz van Haegen amid concerns that the legislation is being rushed through without enough concern for safety.

Documents released under freedom of information legisiation revealed that huge stretches of the motorway network needed to be upgraded, with longer slip roads, before the speed limit could be raised. They comprise 20 per cent of the motorways in the plan and include some of the Netherlands’ most congested roads.

In November it emerged that the effect on road safety was potentially higher than previously thought, with the risk of an accident almost 25% higher on roads where 130 km/h limits were in force. 

Schultz has admitted that it will be practically impossible to have all the enhanced safety measures in place by September 1, the date when the 130km/h zone is due to be extended.

Source: De Pers: Overhaast en onvolledig over 130 km

Photo by chriszwolle

Read previous story: 130km limit extended to 60% of motorways in 2012