In exactly two weeks the maximum speed during the day will go down to 100 km / h. A lot of work still needs to be done before this happens. The associated costs are, according to Rijkswaterstaat, considerably higher than expected.
This appears from inquiries from De Telegraaf. She had Rijkswaterstaat make a calculation. The intended € 7 million appears to be far too little money. To ensure that 100 km / h has to be driven everywhere during the day, the government needs an estimated € 19 million. Almost three times as much!
According to Diederik Fleuren of Rijkswaterstaat, that first estimate was for all adjustments that were required until mid-March. After that, however, the necessary things have to be done. “For example, hectometer signs with speed indication are still installed and turntables adjusted at the rush-hour lanes.” Furthermore, according to Fleuren, software adjustments are also needed in the traffic control centers. These costs are reportedly not included in the earlier budget. However, the adjustment or replacement of 4,000 road signs was taken into account at the time.
Now a “budget error” of € 12 million seems to be quite an amount, of course, but if we look at a larger whole, it is relatively easy. According to the National Budget of 2019, “Infrastructure and Water Management” receives € 10 billion to spend annually. If we delve a little further, the Climate Agreement states, for example, that (up to and including 2023) € 75 million will be invested to tackle the bottlenecks around bicycle parking at stations.
November last year the bullet went through the church and the speed limit was reduced in view of emissions. Where 130 km / h can currently still be driven, from mid-March this is only allowed between 7 pm and 6 am. A maximum speed of 100 km / h applies during the day. Since then there have been varying reactions. Flitsmeister, for example, thinks it will have little effect. On the other hand, there is a positive response with regard to the environment. The measure could also benefit road safety. 52 percent of the fatalities of road traffic victims are now outside the built-up area.