The die is already cast: we will soon only be allowed to drive at ‘just’ 100 km/h on Dutch motorways during the day. The speed reduction will take effect in mid-March 2020, as soon as all speed limit signs have been adjusted.
This is stated in the Ministry Letter on the realisation of speed reduction, which Minister Van Nieuwenhuizen sent to the House of Representatives. The signage will be adjusted by Rijkswaterstaat between Thursday evening 12 March and Monday morning 16 March, the minister writes. In case of bad weather, the work will be postponed to the long weekend of 26-30 March.
Are hard shoulders to be permanently open?
The reduction in the maximum speed limit will only apply during the daytime, between 6:00 AM and 7:00 PM. Outside of this timeframe, the existing maximum speed limit will remain in effect. After the speed reduction has come into force and traffic has had time to adapt to the situation, the minister will investigate whether it would be beneficial to permanently open the smart lanes with a view to traffic flow and safety.
Livestock farmers under pressure
The cabinet decided to lower the maximum speed limit during the day as a measure to reduce nitrogen emissions. This was, in turn, a response to a ruling by the Council of State, which judged that the Dutch approach to curbing nitrogen in vulnerable nature reserves was not adequate. This also has consequences for approximately 180 intensive livestock farms, whose expansion plans are now in jeopardy due to the ruling.
The construction world breathes a sigh of relief
By reducing nitrogen emissions, a large part of the approximately 18 thousand construction projects that were in jeopardy can proceed again, thus saving the construction sector a billion-pound loss.
What do you think about the maximum speed being reduced to 100 kilometres per hour?
