The nitrogen oxide levels in the Netherlands significantly exceed the European limit values. Under pressure from a court, the government is now introducing significant speed limits.
Amsterdam (dpa) - In the fight against dangerous nitrogen oxides, the Netherlands begin to introduce 100 km / h on motorways. The new signs are to be put up from this Thursday, according to the Dutch authority for roads and waterways.
The actual deadline for 100 km / h as the highest speed on motorways is Monday (March 16).
The road authorities urged drivers to pay close attention to the signs. "The new speed on a route applies immediately after the signs are attached," the message said.
There are exceptions to Tempo 100 in the evening and at night between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. "Since the speed limit is higher in the evening and at night than during the day, many traffic signs have a so-called time window," said the Rijkswaterstaat authority. The maximum speed is 130 km / h.
The reason for the new speed limit are high emissions of nitrogen oxides, which, measured in terms of the area of the country, significantly exceed EU limit values. The highest court and advisory body of the government of the Netherlands, the Raad van State, had stopped major construction projects in 2019. The top court gave Prime Minister Mark Rutte's government the choice to take more effective measures to reduce nitrogen oxide or to cancel these projects - including thousands of homes.
