Dutch Province of North Holland invests €11 million in smart mobility

The province of North Holland is investing €11 million to enhance accessibility and road safety through implementing 'smart measures'. By leveraging data, the Dutch province aims to make roads safer, provide earlier warnings and improve the efficiency of traffic lights.

To implement these plans, North Holland will allocate €8.7 million over the next 18 months, and an additional €2.3 million will come from partnerships and grants. This funding will be used for research and plan implementation. 

One such initiative involves extending green light duration for groups of school children, whilst another forward-looking plan is to explore the feasibility of self-driving buses, addressing public transport staff shortages.

North Holland also aims to warn drivers quicker about roadblocks, such as vehicles with breakdowns in emergency lanes. The province has conducted tests where road inspectors automatically send a ‘beware of stationary vehicle’ warning to drivers' dashboard. The province emphasises the importance of new cars automatically transmitting data to road authorities - this data can help identify busy areas and frequent braking zones, contributing to more effective traffic management. 
 

Author: Janneke Janson-Goossens