Campaign week to combat speeding leads to 23.000 fines being issued in the Netherlands

Around 23,000 speeding tickets were issued last week in the Netherlands as part of a European campaign week. A police spokesperson confirmed this after an item on the extra speed checks in the NOS Radio 1 Journaal. The driving licenses of 156 speeding offenders were confiscated, which happens when road users drive more than 50 kilometers per hour over the speeding limit.

The extra checks in Europe, also called a 'flash marathon,' occurred between August 5 and 11. Roadpol, a coalition of several European police forces, initiated the marathon to raise awareness of traffic safety. According to Roadpol, speeding is one of the main reasons for deadly traffic accidents.

"People usually judge their speed wrongly, and they underestimate the braking time needed to stop," the police spokesperson said. He thinks that this leads to accidents with a severe or fatal outcome.

During the action week, traffic police teams in the Netherlands conduct extra speeding checks. The regular teams, which usually also participate, did not participate or were less so in connection with the police protests for a structural early retirement.

Roadpol regularly organizes campaigns in Europe, with the subject changing every time. Last week's 'flash marathon' was about speed, and a week is planned in October for distractions in traffic, such as smartphones.