Antwerp (The Brussels Morning Newspaper): From September 9 to 15, police in Antwerp found 5,385 violations in a traffic operation. An Gaukema reported that 81% of drivers were speeding over the 30 km/h limit, stressing the need for better enforcement.
From September 9 to 15, the police in Antwerp carried out a large traffic operation aimed at protecting vulnerable road users, such as cyclists and pedestrians. Nearly all local police zones participated in this campaign, resulting in a total of 5,385 recorded violations. The focus was on drivers who posed risks to these groups, with common offenses including failing to yield the right of way, speeding in areas with heavy pedestrian or cyclist traffic, and other dangerous driving behaviors.
What Do Recent Traffic Violations Reveal About Driver Behavior?
It has been said that the effort is part of a bigger plan to make roads safer and to remind everyone to protect vulnerable road users. By concentrating on places where cyclists and pedestrians are at higher risk, the police aim to lower accidents and promote safer driving. The large number of violations shows that there are still challenges in getting drivers to follow traffic laws that are meant to keep everyone safe on the road.
An Gaukema, a representative of the Federal Police, recently shared some concerning results from a traffic check in a zone where the speed limit is 30 km/h. This area is meant to be safer for vulnerable road users like pedestrians, cyclists, and children. The goal of the check was to see if drivers were following traffic rules, especially the speed limits, in these important safety areas. As a result, 81% of drivers were speeding over the 30 km/h limit. This shows that many drivers are not following the rules, which can be dangerous for vulnerable road users. Authorities need stricter enforcement and more awareness campaigns to help drivers stick to speed limits, especially in areas meant to keep people safe.
The police saw that many drivers were stopping or parking on sidewalks and using their phones while driving. They also checked if cyclists and pedestrians were following the rules. They fined 67 cyclists and 12 pedestrians for going through red lights, and 81 cyclists for riding the wrong way. Some minors were fined too and will go to a traffic class. Gaukema said that 5,385 violations is a lot, showing that we need to do these checks more often to keep everyone safe.
