It has seldom been as quiet on Dutch roads as it is now. Due to the exceptional situation, there is very little traffic and this poses a potential danger: animals that are closer to roads.
The massive arrival of people because of the corona crisis leads to extraordinary scenes worldwide. Nature responds and this is evident, for example, in the US, where cougars are already popping up in residential areas in some places. Lethal, of course, luckily we don’t have to worry about that. Nevertheless, it is expected that wildlife in the Netherlands will also come closer to civilization. This can lead to dangerous situations on the road, Rijkswaterstaat warns.
Especially in areas where there are normally already many collisions, extra care is now needed. Not only are many animals now inclined to get closer to roads due to the tranquility, there are also large numbers due to the season. So there is a good chance that more crossing moments will occur or animals will camp near roads and can be extra panicky about the single car that does drive past. Rijkswaterstaat therefore calls on road users to be extra alert and to keep a close eye on the roadsides.