Frequently Asked Questions About Traffic and Transportation

The municipality is regularly asked whether additional parking spaces can be created in a neighborhood or on a street. Due to a lack of space, this isn’t always possible. Furthermore, it is important to preserve as much green space in the neighborhood as possible. Green spaces in the neighborhood are important for the quality of life and the appearance of the area. In addition, parking problems are often localized. In some cases, people may have to park a little further away. As a municipality, we consider an average walking distance of 100 meters to be acceptable in such situations.

Public space is limited. Many neighborhoods were built in the second half of the 20th century, when people owned fewer cars. Now there are more cars, but the number of parking spaces has remained the same. There is no room to create new parking spaces. The city does not want to sacrifice green spaces or playgrounds for parking spaces, because green spaces in the neighborhood are important for the livability and appearance of the neighborhood.

We are installing additional charging stations to prepare for the growth in electric vehicles through 2030. Vattenfall is the concession holder (the party that has been granted the right to install and manage charging stations within a specific area) and is responsible for installing the charging stations. The concession grantors are the Provinces of North Brabant and Limburg, together with (almost) all municipalities in Brabant and Limburg. They are working together to develop a future-proof charging infrastructure. We are already planning and beginning to install charging stations so that we can meet the growing demand in the future.

In many neighborhoods, there are now few parking spaces available because households today own more cars than when the neighborhoods were designed. The city can do little about this, as there is hardly any space to create additional parking spots. But electric cars also need somewhere to park. Reserving parking spots for electric cars does not directly increase parking pressure, but it does contribute to a better distribution and availability of charging options.

Parking in front of an entrance or exit is not permitted. When someone parks in front of an entrance or exit, road users cannot enter or exit, causing a nuisance. This type of parking is considered obstructive parking. Enforcement actions may be taken against it. We expect road users to be aware that parking on a sidewalk or in front of an exit is not permitted. Additional measures, such as signs or markings, are therefore not necessary. Do you have any questions? Please contact our enforcement officers.

As a municipality, we are cautious about implementing speed-reduction measures such as speed bumps. Speed bumps, for example, can cause noise and vibration nuisance. In addition, emergency services may in some cases be hindered by speed-reducing measures. Road narrowings are used in more situations than speed bumps and are therefore more common. On a number of routes, we must also take public transportation into account. The municipality’s policy is that as soon as major maintenance is to be carried out on a street, the existing road layout is reviewed. In doing so, we take into account, among other things, any accidents that have occurred, the posted speed limit, and the actual speeds at which vehicles are traveling. Based on this assessment, we determine whether speed-reducing measures should be implemented.

Apart from maintenance work, expanding the number of speed-reducing measures is only possible on a very limited scale. Complaints are collected annually. Speed measurements are conducted. If you believe that drivers are speeding, you can report it via Zo Gemeld. If it turns out that speeding occurs with striking frequency, the municipality may decide to redesign the road. We call this a speed-reducing measure.

50 km/h roads

On roads with a speed limit of 50 km/h, speed-reducing measures are used sparingly. Speed-reducing measures are implemented only at crosswalks and/or intersections/roundabouts.

80 km/h roads

On roads with a speed limit of 80 km/h (provincial roads), speed-reducing measures are generally not implemented. Is one of your neighbors driving too fast? Talk to them about it at a quiet moment, when they’re not in the car. Do you feel like your neighbors aren’t open to a conversation? Then you can use neighborhood mediation to work out a solution together.

The police monitor vehicles on the road and also decide where to install speed cameras. If traffic surveys show that drivers frequently exceed the speed limit, we can request that the police install a speed camera. The police will then assess whether it is necessary and whether it aligns with their policy.

Every road or street has a prescribed speed limit. We also refer to this as road classification. Each type of road has specific characteristics that it must meet to make it clear to drivers how fast they are allowed to drive there. Outside built-up areas, we distinguish between 60 km/h and 80 km/h roads, and within built-up areas, we distinguish between 30 km/h and 50 km/h roads.

When redesigning roads, our guiding principle is to “combine projects.” This means that we address streets and roads at the same time that the sewer system or road surface needs to be replaced.

Simply putting up a “30 km/h” sign on a road where the speed limit is currently 50 km/h isn’t enough. Without additional measures, such as road narrowings or speed bumps, drivers often continue to speed. That’s why it’s important to properly redesign the street when the speed limit needs to be lowered.

If the issue involves a street in, for example, a 30 km/h zone, check to see if it’s always the same driver who is speeding down that street. If it’s someone you know, we recommend that you, as a neighbor, speak to that person about it. Ask for their understanding regarding your concerns about traffic safety—for example, the safety of your children. Did you know that you can organize a free neighborhood campaign through VVN? If that doesn’t work, you can contact the community police officer if necessary. This also applies if the driver is a stranger. In that case, we advise you to write down the license plate number.

If necessary, the municipality may conduct speed checks to monitor driving behavior. If a large number of drivers are indeed speeding, the municipality will first attempt to improve that behavior by using speed displays and similar measures to alert drivers to their speed. If that proves insufficient, the police will conduct checks, or other speed-reduction measures may need to be implemented.

It has been proven that additional signs are of limited use. That is why we try to put up as few signs as possible. This keeps the street quiet and uncluttered. Only the signs that are truly necessary remain in place. This helps drivers pay closer attention and follow the rules.

If a street is truly too narrow, we consider whether one-way traffic is possible. However, one-way traffic often affects traffic throughout the entire neighborhood. That’s why it isn’t always the best solution. We assess each situation individually and look for what works best for both the street and the surrounding area.

The municipality generally does not install traffic mirrors. Mirrors may seem convenient, but they often give a false sense of security. Drivers then pay less attention to the actual traffic situation and focus mainly on the mirror. A mirror can also sometimes be difficult to see, for example, due to dirt or condensation. In addition, distances can sometimes appear different than they actually are. That is why we prefer to opt for other measures that truly contribute to traffic safety.

The area covered by destination traffic regulations is often larger than just the street where residents live. Enforcing destination traffic regulations is difficult. Anyone can claim to have a destination—such as a home, a store, etc. That’s why it’s hard to verify whether someone is actually supposed to be there.

Yes. For more information, visit the page on Using Public Outdoor Spaces.

It is not permitted to place a post or other obstacle on the sidewalk. Sidewalks must always remain accessible to wheelchairs and mobility scooters, for example. If they can get through, a cyclist usually can as well.

Is it common for people to ride their bikes on the sidewalk? If so, you can report it to law enforcement. They can then take action.

A school must always be accessible, for example, to ambulances or the fire department. That is why it is usually not possible to make the area around a school completely car-free. In addition, there is often not enough space on the street to properly organize this.

We always pay close attention to safety around schools. Schools also have a role to play: they need to explain to parents why it’s better to have their children walk or bike to school. That way, we can work together to ensure a safe environment for all children.