Speed cameras to enforce 30 km/h speed limit in parts of Amsterdam from Saturday

From Saturday, June 1, speed cameras will enforce the 30 kilometers per hour speed limit in parts of Amsterdam. The Public Prosecution Service (OM) wants to experiment with whether this form of speed limit enforcement is effective now that more cities are following the capital’s lead and lowering their maximum speeds.

The four fixed speed cameras on Stadhouderskade will be set to a speed limit of 30 kilometers per hour from June 1. Anyone driving faster than that will get a fine. Flexible speed cameras will also be deployed at various times on Postjesweg, Kattenburgerstraat, and Oostenburgergracht.

The OM picked Amsterdam for its experiment because the 30 km/h speed limit has been in effect in most of the city since December 8 last year. Motorists in the city should be used to it by now. The goal of the experiment is to see whether speed cameras are the right tool to enforce the lower speed limit, the OM said.

Amsterderdam’s traffic alderman, Melanie van der Horst, is pleased with the experiment. “Everyone has now had six months to get used to the maximum speed of 30 kilometers per hour. We have placed approximately 4,500 signs, adjusted the road layout in several places, and informed everyone with campaigns. It is good that there is now enforcement to ensure that people adhere to the speed limit.”

“I hope that the trial will be a success so that speed cameras can be sued structurally,” Van der Horst said. “Because we have introduced 30 km/h to improve road safety, because it is under pressure in Amsterdam. We expect 20 to 30 percent fewer accidents as a result.”

The four large cities have asked the government to let them install their own speed cameras, but the OM is against the idea.