Ghent (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Ghent’s pilot project with custom deterrent signs on a low railway bridge has seen only 1 accident in 6 months. Residents are optimistic, and the city may expand the initiative.
As VRT News reported, Ghent is seeing successful results from a pilot project using special deterrent signs to prevent traffic accidents. Residents had long warned the city about the frequent accidents. In response, officials added reflective strips alongside the deterrent signs to improve visibility, especially at night. Early reports indicate the combination of visual warnings and reflective materials has helped reduce accidents.
“Since the installation, we’ve had one report of an accident,”
says Matto Langeraert of the police.
“It’s true that there aren’t any major accidents anymore. Delivery trucks still turn into the street. They have to turn around in our driveways. That still happens about six times a day and is quite annoying,”
says a resident.
What makes Ghent’s deterrent signs successful in reducing accidents?
According to officials, traffic on Spesbroekstraat in Wondelgem has increased due to a nearby detour that directs more vehicles onto the street. Even with increased traffic, city officials report that drivers are moving more slowly. The traffic lights further down the road help control speeds and improve safety.
Ghent city officials say they are satisfied with the pilot project’s results.
“You can achieve a lot with a little creativity. We’re happy that these signs prevent delivery trucks from crashing into the bridge. I wouldn’t rule out implementing this elsewhere,”
says Alderman Joris Vandenbroucke (For Ghent).
On April 15, 2025, the city placed 6 large signs on Spesbroekstraat in the Wondelgem district. The signs were designed by the city and show photos of previous collisions at the site. The area is risky because of a 22-meter-high railway bridge that delivery trucks often hit. No injuries have been reported, but the crashes caused repeated damage to vehicles and the bridge.
Several Belgian cities have used visual deterrent signs to improve road safety. In Antwerp in 2022, signs showing photos of previous collisions were placed at low-clearance bridges and dangerous intersections to warn drivers. In Leuven around 2021, similar signs were installed at sharp bends and narrow streets. Since 2020, some Brussels municipalities have tested photo-based warning signs at busy intersections and low tunnels.
