Speed action Kerkrade: sail normally, sail lanksame

Everyone occasionally drives faster than allowed. This often happens unconsciously. You drive along with traffic or your thoughts wander. Sometimes deliberately, to make up for lost time. It often seems like an innocent offense, but can have serious consequences. Especially in built-up areas where you regularly encounter unexpected traffic situations. And where you are dealing with vulnerable road users, such as children, the elderly and cyclists.

As a municipality of Kerkrade, we take traffic safety seriously. We want to pay more attention to speed in traffic within the municipality. That is why we have placed new traffic signs in the town. Especially in areas with many pedestrians, cyclists and children, it is important to consciously watch your speed. We ask all road users to pay close attention to their speed.

Alderman Alexander Geers (Traffic and Transportation): "People regularly drive too fast in our municipality. Traffic safety starts with ourselves. By being aware of speed and obeying the traffic rules, we contribute to a safe environment for everyone. We hope that in this playful way, using traffic signs in Kerkrade dialect, we can draw more attention to awareness and safety on the road. Sail lanksaam and make Kerkrade safer for everyone."

Signs reading "Vaar normaal" and "Vaar lanksaam" have been placed at Schaesbergerstraat and Industriestraat/Schifferheidestraat.

Facts about speeding 

• If you drive 10 km above the 30 km per hour limit in a residential area, you have 6 meters of extra braking distance. 
• In an emergency stop at 50 km per hour, your braking distance is twice as long as at 30 km per hour. 
• If you drive 60 km per hour in rain, your braking distance is more than 10 meters longer than in dry weather. 
• For a pedestrian, a 30 mph collision is comparable to a fall from the second floor of an apartment building. Such an accident takes the lives of 10% of pedestrians. 
• At 50 mph, the impact is equivalent to falling from three high. Half of pedestrians do not survive that
• About 1 in 3 fatal traffic accidents is due to speeding?
• If everyone in the Netherlands obeys the speed limit we will have 25-30% fewer injury victims
• Pedestrians and cyclists die annually due to violations of 10-15 km above the 30 and 50 km/h limits?
• A collision at 50 km/h is equivalent to falling 10 meters? This is from the^3rd floor of an apartment building, for example.
• ABS does not shorten braking distance, but only keeps the car more controllable?

While paying attention to the road, of course, check your speed regularly. That way you never drive too fast unnoticed.

For more information on the consequences of speeding and the national "Come Home Safely" campaign, visit www.komveiligthuis.nl/snelheid.