Netherlands traffic jam increase the worst ever

The extent of traffic jams in the Netherlands increased by approximately 25 percent last year, according to the preliminary annual figures from traffic service VID. That is the largest ever increase in a year since the VID started collecting traffic statistics in 2000. This sharp increase puts an end to the decreasing trend that started in 2007. The extent of traffic jams lessened between 2007 and 2014 due to road widening projects and the economic crisis resulting in fewer cars on the road. At the end of 2014 traffic jams were half the size of 2007. This year a quarter of that decline was lost. The VID attributes the significant increase to a combination of factors. The effects of road widening projects have partly run their course and new problem areas developed. Car traffic is also growing faster than previous years due to the improving economy. Another contributing factor is weather conditions. This year there were more rainfalls during rush hour than in 2014, 64 and 48 rainfalls respectively. The top 11 traffic problem areas of 2015 were as follows:

1. On the A20 from Hoek van Holland towards Gouda at Terbegseplein
2. On the A20 from Hoek van Holland towards Gouda at Moodrecht
3. On the A1 from Amsterdam to Amersfoort at Eembrugge
4. On the A16 from Breda to Rotterdam at Terbegseplein
5. On the A28 from Amersfoort to Utrecht at Rijsweerd
6. On the A4 from Delft to Amsterdam at Zoeterwoude-Dorp
7. On the A20 from Gouda to Hoek van Holland at Rotterdam-Center
8. On the A7 from Hoorn to Zaanstad at Wijdewormer
9. On the A1 from Amsterdam to Amersfoort at Muiden
10. On the A27 from Utrecht to Gorinchem at Lexmond
11. On the A13 from Rijswijk to Rotterdam at Berkel en Rodenrijs