Vias, an institute concerned with road safety in Belgium, has expressed concern over the high percentage of drivers who are not respecting the 90 km/h limit on certain roads. The proportion of such drivers has doubled over the past ten years, rising from 26% in 2012 to a worrying 54%. Vias notes that even one percent of drivers measured exceeded the limit by at least 47 km/h, which would result in automatic court referral if caught.
Vias explains that the sharp increase may be due to a change in the composition of the roads with 90 km/h limits. In Flanders, for instance, the default maximum speed outside built-up areas decreased from 90 to 70 km/h in 2017, leading to the limited roads being fewer in number. This new landscape lends itself to faster driving, particularly on roads made up of 2×2 strips.
Overall, average speeds on Belgian roads tend to hover around the legal limits, with the exception of speed zones of 30 km/h in Wallonia and Flanders, as well as certain limited roads at 50 km/h in the south of the country. On the motorway, Belgians generally respect the 120 km/h limit equally, regardless of which region they are in. However, 44% of motorists were still found to be driving too fast on the motorway.
The percentage of drivers not respecting the 30 km/h zones has dropped below 90% for the first time, but still remains the highest of all speed limits at 78%. In Wallonia, 84% of drivers violate this limit, whereas in Flanders it is 79% and in Brussels 64%. Vias took their measurements from 3.8 million cars in 215 locations across Belgium at free speed conditions, which means with minimal external impediments that could sway speeds, such as speed bumps, cameras or traffic jams.
The proportion of drivers not respecting the 90 km/ha limit doubled in ten years, from 26% in 2012 to 54%, the highest percentage since the start of the measures, worries Vias.
The institute calls this trend “worrying“while more than half of the drivers measured violate the 90 km/h limit.
One percent of motorists measured even exceeded the limit by at least 47 km / h, notes Vias, who points out that in the event of control, these people would have been automatically sent back to court.
How to explain this sharp increase in 10 years?
According to Vias, the explanation is to be found in the change in the composition of the roads limited to 90 km / h, while in Flanders, the maximum default speed outside built-up areas increased in 2017 from 90 to 70 km / h.
“The roads subject to this limitation are (therefore) less numerous. The roadscape on lanes currently limited to 90 km/h lends itself more to faster driving. These are often fairly wide roads made up of 2×2 strips.“
In general, the average speed measured on Belgian roads is around the limits in force except for zones 30 in Wallonia (average speed of 42 km/h) and in Flanders (38 km/h) as well as the limited roads at 50 km/h in the south of the country (average speed of 56 km/h).
On the motorway, on the other hand, Belgians respect the 120 km/h limit fairly well, regardless of the Region.
From the point of view of the percentage of drivers in violation on the motorways, a total of 44% of motorists were driving too fast. Little difference was observed according to the Regions.
The percentage of drivers not respecting the 30 zones has dropped, even falling well below 90% for the first time, but remains the highest in Belgium (78%).
In Wallonia, 84% of motorists violate this limit, while in Flanders it is 79% and in Brussels 64%. At the end of 2021, Vias measured the speed of 3.8 million cars in 215 locations across Belgium, “under free speed conditions“, i.e. with the fewest external factors that can influence speed (speed bumps, speed cameras, traffic jams, etc.).
In conclusion, the latest figures from Vias indicate that the proportion of drivers in Belgium who do not respect the 90 km/h limit has doubled in the past decade, reaching 54% – the highest rate since this measure was implemented. This worrying trend can be attributed to changes in the composition of the roads that are limited to 90 km/h. Meanwhile, Belgians have shown to abide by the 120 km/h limit on motorways quite well. Although the violation rate for 30 zones has decreased, it still remains the highest in Belgium. Despite the efforts of authorities to impose stricter measures, it is important for motorists to be responsible and mindful of their speed for their safety and those around them.