In July 2018, ARS Traffic & Transport Technology was awarded the contract for the average speed enforcement on provincial roads in the north of the Netherlands. In the Netherlands, provincial roads are relatively dangerous roads in the entire road network. Although they only cover 6% of the road network, about 25% of all accidents happen on the provincial roads according to analysis done by the Royal Dutch Touring Club (ANWB).
The Netherlands Public Prosecution Service has done extensive analysis and selected a list of dangerous provincial roads. These are mainly single and double carriageway roads with relatively high accident and speed violation rates. Risk factors like access roads, crossing by vulnerable road users such as cyclists, and trees make speeding dangerous. To improve safety, the Netherlands Public Prosecution Service sent out a European tender for average speed enforcement on some of these provincial roads, which ARS T&TT was awarded for the north of the Netherlands. Not all provincial roads are suitable for average speed enforcement systems as they must be able to measure speed over a long stretch of road without too many side roads or entrance and exit ramps.
ARS T&TT will carry out this project with the use of their new VA platform. The VA platform is a modular ANPR camera solution which is characterized by high availability and simple quick implementation with minimal traffic hindrance. First, the VA cam has to be certified as an official enforcement system by the NMi (the Dutch independent specialist for testing, certifying and training in the field of metrology). Part of this certification is a high-speed test. Once certified, the first VA camera will be put into operation in the first half of 2019. Nine other locations will be fitted with VA cams in 2019. The average speed enforcement systems will be in operations for a minimum of 6 years, with three times the option to extend for two years.
