Raising the Speed Limit: Dutch Motorways

Dutch Motorways - Speed Limit Changes
(c) The Writing Well

We've just come back from another trip to the UK. To get across the channel we used the Channel Tunnel and to get to the Chunnel we hurtled down many a motorway - in three different countries. In the Netherlands, driving along the A17 we noticed plastic covered speed signs that indicated a speed limit of 130. By the time we used the same road a week later on our return journey the plastic was off and the raised speed limit was in force.

It is part of a trial by the Rijksoverheid on a third of Dutch motorways. The aim is to shorten journeys and air quality, traffic noise and traffic safety will all  be monitored.

Here's what I observed from the passenger seat during the late afternoon traffic last Tuesday:
My husband, the driver, had to brake sharply a lot. Why? Because the A17 is two lanes. Whilst everyone in the left lane was driving the new speed limit of around 130, the cars in the right lane were not. So when they pulled out to overtake slow moving lorries and holiday goers with caravans the traffic suddenly had to decrease speed sharply. Safer? I think not. Quicker? Nope.

It seems a strange stretch of road to increase speed on given that there are only two lanes and the outer lane is constantly used to overtake slow moving traffic before pulling back in to the right lane. This is the only experience I have yet to have with the increased speed limit but so far the safety aspects don't measure up. I guess time will tell!

What about other roads where the speed limit is being trialled higher? Anyone got any experience?