Traffic jam levels almost stable in Netherlands

After years of significant increases, the levels of traffic jams in the Netherlands remained almost stable this year. The level of traffic jams is calculated by multiplying the length of the traffic jam with its time duration, according to NOS. Last year this increased by 12 percent compared to 2015. This year it increased by only 0.6 percent, the broadcaster reports.

The ANWB attributes this sudden stability in traffic levels to road works at various important junctions being completed this year. For example, the connection between the A1 and A6 opened, which resulted in far fewer traffic jams on this route than in previous years. Traffic information service VID added that the stagnating growth can also be attributed to motorists adjusting to traffic jams and taking to the road at different times.

No increase in traffic jams this year does not mean that traffic decreased or remained the same on all routes. The roads around Utrecht - A27, A28, A12, and the A2 - in particular saw more traffic jams than last year. 

The Terbregseplein junction on the A20 from Rotterdam to Gouda was the junction with the most traffic problems this year. Traffic jams here increased by more than 21 percent compared to 2016, when the junction came in third place. Last year's 1st place, Zoeterwoude-Dorp on the A4, dropped to second place this year. And third place went to the A20 towards Gouda at Moordrecht, last year's second. 

The busiest route this year was the A20 from Hoek van Holland to Gouda. 4.3 percent of all the traffic jams in 2017 were on that route. Second place went to the A4 from Amsterdam to The Hague with 3.9 percent, and third place to this same route the other way with 3.4 percent. Tied with the A4 for third place is the A12 from Utrecht to The Hague, also with 3.4 percent.