Mobility, public transport and road safety

The Dutch are always on the move for their work as well as in their leisure time. The government is looking at new technologies to solve challenges in the area of transport, the environment and safety.

The government is working together with the private sector to develop self-driving vehicles, and to improve in-car traffic information for drivers. This will reduce congestion and CO2 emissions, and improve road safety. Data is vitally important in this, so a lot of work is being done to improve data transmission and data quality. The Netherlands wants to take the lead in new initiatives like the Internet of Things, smart cities and connectivity

The Netherlands is a unique testing ground for Smart Mobility solutions. That’s why the government is supporting their development in many ways, from providing testing facilities to adjusting rules and regulations. The aim is to make Smart Mobility possible on a larger scale. In the Netherlands, businesses, knowledge institutions and government are working on this together.

The government is a driving force behind the development of Smart Mobility in the Netherlands. It is creating enabling conditions and has launched several Smart Mobility projects. Especially during the EU presidency in the first half year of 2016, former Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management Melanie Schultz van Haegen put cooperative mobility and automated vehicles on the European agenda.

Roads are more quickly constructed and better utilised. Fewer traffic jams ensure that people can move quickly and comfortably.

The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (Infrastructuur en Waterstaat, I&W) wants the Netherlands to have a good infrastructure of roads that provide optimal mobility to people and businesses. The ministry will tackle the traffic jams and improve mobility.

Achieving this within a few years is not feasible because it requires significant improvements in the road network and public transport system. It is, however, the long-term goal. In the years ahead, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management will be working on a mobility system that is user friendly and offers travellers and transport companies the choice of an attractive mode of transport. A mobility system that can withstand a blow.

Travellers themselves have an important role to play. They should feel invited to make conscious choices; to avoid peak hours and choose between the car and public transport. The business community is working on this by introducing flexible working hours.