The Hague investing in traffic safety

The Municipality of The Hague will invest more than € 5.4 million in traffic safety in the coming years. This is outlined in the Meerjarenprogramma Verkeersveiligheid (Long-range Traffic Safety Programme) 2012-2015.

Just as in previous years the traffic safety policy has three goals: preventing accidents by redesigning roads and by promoting responsible behaviour, improving road safety in residential areas and around schools and tackling the most common locations for collisions (black spots).

‘Human behaviour is the biggest cause of traffic accidents,’ explained Deputy Mayor Peter Smit (Transportation). ‘People fail to yield, ignore a red light, drive too fast and drive or bike around wearing headphones. Unfortunately a number of people fall victim to traffic incidents every year.’

Road design

To increase traffic safety in The Hague, ten streets considered risk-prone will be redesigned. In 2012 and 2013 the municipality will redesign the Hobbemastraat, Beeklaan, Fahrenheitstraat and the Willem de Zwijgerlaan. Pedestrian crossings will be created at 11 schools and school zones will be made at 18 schools. The municipality will approach an additional 20 schools to examine whether extra traffic measures are needed.

Behaviour

Human behaviour has a major influence on how safe it is on the street. To prevent people from driving too fast displays will be placed along the road at different locations to show how fast cars are going. Measurements have shown that these displays have a positive effect on driving behaviour. The police will also step up speed controls on the Hengelolaan, Madepolderweg and the Middachtenweg-Moerweg-Soestdijksekade-Zuiderparklaan.

Road safety education is also a major component of the municipal policy both at primary as well as secondary schools.

Black spots

Ten locations known as ‘black spots’ will be examined and redesigned, including the Groen van Prinstererlaan-Houtwijklaan, Fruitweg-Melis Stokelaan-Troelstrakade, Spaarneplein-Weteringkade and Viaductweg-Waldorpstraat. A black spot is a location where six or more collisions with injuries have been registered over the last five years and four or more collisions over the last three consecutive years