‘Roads are not designed for it’
Today in a large part of Amsterdam the maximum speed has been reduced to 30 km/h. An expert from architectural and engineering consultancy Sweco expects that this will have little effect in practice.
Last night, stickers were removed from new traffic signs throughout Amsterdam and 30 km/h became the new speed limit on many of the roads. This concerns no less than 80 percent of the roads in the capital. The intention is to improve road safety. For example, at lower speeds the risk of serious injury in a collision between a car and a cyclist is considerably lower. Moreover, the environmental benefit is probably nil or even worse, because engines may not reach the right temperature as quickly and then emit more.
Whatever the goal, according to Hans Drolenga, expert in the field of safe mobility at Sweco, it is unlikely that many motorists will adhere to the new speed limit. “It is likely that many motorists will not adhere to the new speed limit because the roads are not designed for it,” Drolenga said. ANP. “There are wide roads and long asphalt strips in many places in Amsterdam. They invite you to drive much faster than 30 kilometers per hour. There is little chance that motorists will voluntarily reduce their speed on those roads. I think that in many cases This will also require major adjustments to the road.”
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl