How do crashes in 30 km/h zones occur?

Answer

In 2009 SWOV analysed the circumstances of the (police registered) crashes in 30 km/h zones in the period 2005-2007 [7] . It was found that in crashes between pedestrians and motor vehicles ‘wrong road crossing’ is the most common cause (43%). If the pedestrians are children the percentage is as high as 3%. The most common cause of crashes between cyclists and motor vehicles is ‘failing to give way’ by either party (54%). In more than 80% of the crashes that were studied the infrastructural design may have played a role [7]. Crashes during special manoeuvers (reversing, parallel parking), or as a result of the sudden opening of the car door, are not strongly related to the road design. This concerns approximately 20% of the crashes on 30 km/h roads.

Part of fact sheet

30 km/h zones

A 30 km/h zone is also known as a ‘zone 30’ or a 'residential area'. The zone is mostly situated within an urban area and consists of… Meer

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