80km/h limits introduced to tackle environmental threats

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The limit on the four roads has gone down this month from 100 to 80 km/h. A fifth stretch has seen the limit reduced from 120 to 100 km/h.

Research into 80 km/h zones published in June 2003 calculated that NOx emissions went down by 15-25%, and PM10 emissions by 25-35%.

Meanwhile the transport minister in the Belgian region of Flanders, Kathleen van Brempt, is calling for an 80 km/h limit for commercial vehicles. The Flemish Institute of Technical Research says this will reduce CO₂ emissions by around 15%.

• The Dutch government has also announced plans to pay selected car owners between €2 and €5 to leave their cars at home during the morning rush hour. Two trials will take place next year – one in Amsterdam, the other on the A12 motorway between Zoetermeer and The Hague – aimed at seeing if offering rewards can cut the number of people using a car during peak periods.

This news story is taken from the November 2005 edition of T&E Bulletin.