Limburg (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Police checks in Limburg school zones in September found 1 in 3 drivers speeding. Governor Jos Lantmeeters urged prevention after 94 seatbelt, 900 parking, and 95 impaired driving violations.
As VRT News reported, police checks in Limburg school zones in September 2025 exposed a major safety problem. Officers found that 1 in 3 cars was driving too fast near schools. The speeding happened despite clear traffic signs and several campaigns to warn drivers. Road safety experts say that higher speeds increase the risk of serious accidents.
“This worries us enormously,”
Says Governor Jos Lantmeeters.
“This is completely irresponsible behaviour.”
What do Limburg school zone checks reveal about driver safety?
Governor Jos Lantmeeters responded to the findings with a focus on prevention. He said his role is to raise awareness and bring together municipalities, police, and schools. He stressed that safer school areas depend on changing driver behaviour, not only on punishment.
“Taking strict action against those who break the rules is the only solution.”
Jos Lantmeeters, governor of Limburg
“We also call on the police to conduct extra checks in school areas and issue fines to offenders if necessary. If a third of drivers are speeding, this is a very unsafe situation for children, and action is necessary,”
Jos Lantmeeters said.
Traffic inspections in Limburg revealed many violations apart from speeding near schools. Police said 94 drivers were caught without wearing seatbelts. Another 49 parents failed to fasten their children properly in the car.
Officers warned that such neglect puts young passengers at high risk during sudden stops or collisions. Illegal parking was also a major problem, with more than 900 incidents recorded around school areas. In addition, 125 drivers were stopped for using a smartphone while driving.
Checks further showed several cases of impaired driving. Police confirmed that 58 motorists were caught under the influence of alcohol and 37 under the influence of drugs. For each of these violations, the proper citations and fines were issued.
“It’s striking that the numbers are so much higher than last year; I don’t have a clear explanation for that. Taking strict action against those who break the rules is the only solution,”
Says the governor.
Traffic checks around schools in Limburg have been conducted for many years, often coinciding with the start of the school year in September. Large awareness campaigns against speeding in school zones began in the early 2010s, supported by police inspections every September.
In 2018 and 2019, several fatal incidents occurred near schools, prompting an increase in controls and subsequent thousands of checks in the following years. After Jos Lantmeeters took office as governor on 1 September 2020, one of his priorities became prevention and school safety. Police figures in 2023 already showed a rise in speeding and phone use near schools.
