Torhout (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Torhout resident Sander Neels placed a homemade warning sign on Groenhovestraat after near misses. Alderman Pieter Billiet (CD&V) confirmed poor visibility and announced safety plans with green emergency lanes.
As VRT News reported, Torhout, in the province of West Flanders, Belgium, resident Sander Neels, 41 years old, has made a warning sign to address speeding on Groenhovestraat. He has lived on the rural road for 5 years and says cars drive too fast despite the many bends.
What led Sander Neels to put up a homemade warning sign?
2 Weeks ago, a father had to pull his child out of the way of a speeding car on Groenhovestraat in Torhout. Resident Sander Neels placed a homemade warning sign after the incident to remind drivers to slow down. He reports that since the sign was installed, almost every motorist has reduced speed when passing. Over the weekend, a police patrol also drove through the street, and the sign attracted their attention.
Alderman for Mobility Pieter Billiet (CD&V) said,
“It’s a fun action with a clear message. I think it’s good that residents are drawing attention to the livability of their street, although of course, the goal isn’t for everyone to put up a sign.”
The city has acknowledged the concerns about traffic on Groenhovestraat. According to the alderman, official speed checks show no major violations on the road. He noted that the real problem lies in the poor visibility caused by the bends. To improve safety, the municipality plans to add emergency lanes with green areas in the coming period.
In the summer of 2024, the city of Torhout carried out speed checks on Groenhovestraat. The control showed no major speeding violations, but the report pointed to poor visibility caused by the sharp bends. Despite the findings, worries among residents persisted.
On Friday, September 5, 2025, a speeding car passed close to resident Sander Neels as he was pruning his hedge on Groenhovestraat. With his back to the road, the sudden air draft startled him. Neels later stated that the driver did not slow down and that the incident prompted him to take action.
