Herentals (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Herentals raised Ekelstraat’s speed limit from 30 to 50 km/h. Governor and Groen oppose it. Mayor Jan Bertels will reassess using Flemish guidelines for road safety.
AS VRT News reported, in Herentals, in the province of Antwerp, Belgium, the city council changed the speed limit on part of Ekelstraat. It was 30 km/h, but now it is 50 km/h. Last year, the city made the whole Wuytsbergen-Ekelen area a 30 km/h zone to make the streets safer. That was to help protect people who walk or bike and also to keep children safe.
The city raised the speed limit again on one part of the street. The governor says the city must explain this better. He thinks the reason is not strong enough. The city must show why faster driving is okay in that place. The governor says this is important because the area was marked as needing more safety before.
What made Herentals raise Ekelstraat’s speed limit to 50 km/h?
The opposition party Groen is not happy with the city’s decision. They say the city is not serious about traffic safety. Groen thinks that raising the speed limit makes the area more dangerous for people. They believe the decision is not based on good planning or facts. Instead, they think it is a quick political move.
Groen calls it “political improvisation.” They say the city is putting safety at risk just to make things easier or to please some groups. The party wants the city to be clear and careful when making rules that affect daily life. They say traffic rules should protect people, not create more danger.
Mayor Jan Bertels said they need to use a special guide from the government. This guide helps decide if a road should be 30 or 50 km/h. It looks at things like the road’s size, accidents, and traffic. The mayor will do the assessment. He thinks it will show whether 50 km/h is good or not for that road.
The city council defended their decision, saying the road’s design on Ekelstraat makes 30 km/h feel odd. They pointed out the road is wide and has few accidents, supporting a higher speed. They also want to keep people on board with 30 km/h zones where they’re truly needed.
The city thinks using the lower speed limit where it doesn’t fit could make people frustrated and less likely to follow rules. By allowing 50 km/h in appropriate spots, they aim to highlight the importance of slower zones, like those near schools or on narrow streets, where safety is a bigger concern.
