Rotterdam speed trap quickly catches thousands of drivers

A speed camera installed on the A16 at the Terbregseplein junction in Rotterdam early in May had to be switched off after it registered thousands of speeding violations in the first few days. The number of caught speeders was so high that the device could not process it, Rijnmond reports.

Major roadworks are happening on the A16 at the Terbregseplein junction. A complete viaduct over the Hoofdweg is being replaced and rebuilt. For safety reasons, the Public Prosecution Service (OM) and the public works department Rijkswaterstaat decided to lower the speed limit to 70 kilometers per hour.

On May 1, the OM installed the speed camera to enforce the new speed limit. A few days later, it had to be turned off again because it couldn’t process the thousands of violations it registered. Apparently, many road users still had to get used to the reduced speed limit, the OM told Rijnmond.

The speed camera was tested in the past weeks and turned back on on Monday, May 27. The Rijkswaterstaat also installed additional traffic signs to alert road users to the new speed limit.

The motorists caught speeding early this month will not be fined, but those caught since Monday will.