Over 10,000 traffic accidents at Dutch schools in 3 years: report

Almost 90 percent of schools in the Netherlands experience problems with traffic in their immediate vicinity. Over the past three years, over 10 thousand traffic accidents were reported in the vicinity of schools, according to research by RTL Nieuws in collaboration with the University of Groningen.

Over the past three years, the police registered over 10 thousand accidents during school hours in a radius of 150 meters around schools. People were killed in traffic accident in the vicinity of 44 for schools. The problem is greatest in the large cities. A school in a large city sees 13 times more accidents than a school in the countryside, according to the broadcaster.

RTL also questioned nearly a thousand schools about the traffic problems they experience. 940 of them responded. No less than 88 percent reported problems with the traffic situation around schools. Primary schools in particular report problems. Illegal parking, crowded access roads, speeding and unclear traffic situations were mentioned most often.

Minister Cora van Nieuwenhuizen of Infrastructure and Water Management is shocked by the large number of accidents around schools. "We have road safety as a priority, so I really want to get this number down", she said to the broadcaster. The Minister appeals to parents and municipalities to help with this. "It seems to me that all hands need to be on deck for municipal councils and aldermen who are responsible for this. I also think that parents should lead by example. Please don't take your child to school by car. Take the bike yourself, do it in a safe way."