The Municipality of The Hague will invest more than 5,4 million euros in traffic safety in the coming years, as outlined in the Meerjarenprogramma Verkeersveiligheid (Long-range Traffic Safety Programme) 2012-2015.
The Hague's 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 (so-called "black spots").
As Deputy Mayor Peter Smit, The Hague's alderman for Transportation, explains: "Human behaviour is the biggest cause of traffic accidents." The Hague's approach to traffic safety therefore focuses on measures to positively influence people's driving behaviour.
To discourage people from driving too fast, speed displays will be placed along the road at different locations. These displays have been shown to 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.
10 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 also 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.
10 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 reported over the last five years and four or more collisions over the last three consecutive years.