Slight decline in traffic offences, except ‘no vehicles’
The number of traffic offences under the Traffic Regulations (Administrative Enforcement) Act (Wet administratiefrechtelijke handhaving verkeersvoorschriften, or Wahv) slightly declined in the first four months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. Against the backdrop of this overall decline, however, there was a striking increase in fines for failing to comply with ‘no vehicles’ and ‘no entry’ signs.
Total number of fines: mostly for speeding
A total of 2,592,939 so-called ‘Mulder’ fines were issued in the first four months of 2024: down 2.6 per cent on the same period in 2023 (2,662,482). Speeding offences formed the largest category (1,894,399 in 2024 against 2,009,473 in the first four months of 2023). The biggest percentage decrease was seen at average speed controls (minus 15.2 per cent).
Other major categories of Wahv offences are those for ignoring a red traffic light and illegal or non-paid parking or stopping in a no stopping zone. For running a red light, 69,505 (75,837 in 2023) fines were issued in the first four months. The number of fines for illegal parking remained almost the same: 175,645 against 175,582.
Increase in fines for failing to comply with a no entry sign
Within the ‘other traffic offences’ category, the large increase in no entry and no vehicles violations is particularly striking. This increase was also seen in the 2023 annual figures, but recently there seems to have been a slight decrease in violations of prohibitions to enter low emission zones. Overall, some 170,000 no entry violations were recorded: about 90,000 more than in the first four months of 2023. The growing number of offences is presumably due to the rise in traffic restrictions in cities – city centres in particular – and village centres.
Fewer fines for failing to wear a helmet and handheld calling
In the first four months of this year, fewer offences were recorded of people not using hands-free calling (60,279 in 2024 compared to 68,897 in 2023) and not using bicycle lights (13,850 compared to 20,656). The number of fines for not wearing a helmet on mopeds or motorised bicycles also decreased (from 32,793 to 13,571). This presumably has to do with the fact that motorised bicycle riders are now used to the fact that helmets are mandatory for them too. That measure was introduced for reasons of road safety from 1 January 2023.
Foreign licence plates
The number of traffic offences committed by foreign licence plate holders remained almost the same: 247,027 in the first four months of 2024 compared to 255,379 in 2023. Most fines were issued for German, Belgian, Polish, French and Romanian vehicles.
Originally published at https://www.government.nl/latest/news/2024/05/28/slight-decline-in-traffic-offences-except-no-vehicles
