Maximum speed to be reduced as of mid-March 2020

The decision has been made for a while now: we will soon be allowed to drive 'only' 100 km/h on Dutch highways during the day. The speed reduction will effectively take effect in mid-March 2020, once all traffic signs indicating the maximum speed have been adjusted. 

This is stated in the letter to the House of Representatives on the realisation of the 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 moved to the long weekend of 26-30 March.

Hard shoulder lanes permanently open?

The reduction in the maximum speed will only apply during the day, between 6.00:19.00 and XNUMX:XNUMX. Outside of that time frame, the existing maximum speed will continue to apply. After the speed reduction has come into effect and traffic has had time to get used to the situation, the minister will investigate whether it is useful to permanently open the peak lanes with a view to traffic flow and safety.

Livestock farmers in trouble

The cabinet decided to lower the maximum speed 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 ruled that the Dutch approach to reducing nitrogen in vulnerable nature reserves was not sound. This also has consequences for approximately 180 intensive livestock farms, whose expansion plans are being jeopardized by the ruling.

Construction world breathes a sigh of relief

By reducing nitrogen emissions, a large proportion of the approximately 18 construction projects that were in jeopardy can continue, saving the construction sector from billions in losses.

---

What do you think about the speed limit being lowered to one hundred kilometers per hour?