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| Dutch Motorways - Speed Limit Changes (c) The Writing Well |
It is part of a trial by the Rijksoverheid on a third of Dutch motorways. The aim is to shorten journeys and air quality, traffic noise and traffic safety will all be monitored.
Here's what I observed from the passenger seat during the late afternoon traffic last Tuesday:
My husband, the driver, had to brake sharply a lot. Why? Because the A17 is two lanes. Whilst everyone in the left lane was driving the new speed limit of around 130, the cars in the right lane were not. So when they pulled out to overtake slow moving lorries and holiday goers with caravans the traffic suddenly had to decrease speed sharply. Safer? I think not. Quicker? Nope.
It seems a strange stretch of road to increase speed on given that there are only two lanes and the outer lane is constantly used to overtake slow moving traffic before pulling back in to the right lane. This is the only experience I have yet to have with the increased speed limit but so far the safety aspects don't measure up. I guess time will tell!
What about other roads where the speed limit is being trialled higher? Anyone got any experience?
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5 comments:
I recently spent an afternoon on a bridge over the motorway near Nuenen, where trials were been run on new traffic management systems. In the future, car computers will be able to communicate with each other so that if a car has to brake, all the cars following will automatically have their speeds adjusted. When there are enough cars with this system (maybe only every 10th car is necessary to make it work), driving on busy motorways won't be so stressful. It will also help stop the effect where people speed up - slow down, particularly around junctions, which causes unnecessary tailbacks because people overreact to the brake lights in front. It should lead to smoother travel, reduce congestion and also increase fuel efficiency. There are really some amazing things in the pipeline, and Dutch companies and universities are up there with the best.
Meanwhile, back in the real world, increasing speed limits to 130km/h on a two-lane motorway does not sound like a good idea. On the other hand, the Germans seem to be able to do it, but they have a different style of driving. Germans stick religiously to the speed limit and are disciplined about moving back into the slower lane if they're not overtaking. It doesn't seem like the best use of the road space though; surely more cars would fit on the road if both lanes were used more effectively by travelling at the same (lower) speed? But I'm no expert. Undoubtedly time will tell.
Wow, thanks for sharing this Sarah - sounds like a science fiction movie!! If there is one country where this sort of trial is a good move, it has to be Holland! One of the issues is certainly the lack of space drivers leave here between cars so braking is always sharper. Interesting developments and curious how roads will be in the future - hopefully a lot less stressful!
I only just learned to drive at the normal speed. Now I have to learn again?
Stu - don't worry - no one else is adjusting their rijgedrag... so you needn't either. Just keep bombing along causing mayhem and you'll fit in fine ;-)
You can now whizz over the afsluitdijk at 130. This I did last month, only to have to wait at the other end because the bridge was up for passing shipping. Time gained - none, petrol wasted - loads.
This was a silly vote-catching policy promise by the current, deeply short-sighted and unimaginative Dutch government. Dutch motorways are rarely good enough for 130. Those in France and Germany have more often than not been built to cope with higher speeds from the start.
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