The number of traffic accidents in the first months of this year was considerably higher than last year. This is worrying, according to the National Police, although the relaxation of the corona policy also undoubtedly plays a role.
Road safety in the Netherlands is getting worse. Compared to 2021, there are many more accidents in the first months of this year and the number of victims is also increasing dramatically, reports The Telegraph based on figures from Smart Traffic Accident Reporting (STAR), in which the police, government and ANWB work together, among others.
From January 1 to March 7 of 2022, 2,691 accidents already resulted in one or more serious injuries or deaths. That is 628 more than a year earlier. The number of incidents with canister damage also increased enormously from 9,299 last year to 11,931 in the period to date in 2022. “These are disturbing figures”, says Paul Broer, portfolio holder for traffic at the National Police. “They certainly worry me because the cause often still lies with distraction, excessive speed and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.”
Broer explains that the end of working from home plays a role: “We see that more and more traffic is on the road after that nasty corona time. People are tired of working from home and are going ‘to the business’ again.” The relatively mild winter and the sunny period in which we are now also contribute to this: “The nice weather also invites walks, bike rides or rides by car or motorcycle. In short, it is getting busier on the streets with also result in more accidents.”
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl