More than 1.66 million people were caught breaking the speed limit in Flanders in the first half of last year, recent data from the Flemish Traffic Research Foundation (VSV) showed.
This marks an 11% increase compared to the same period in 2019, the last comparable data before the Covid-19 crisis, according to figures from the Federal Police. More than one-fourth of the total number of people who put their foot down (27.4%) drove more than ten kilometres per hour above the allowed limit.
"These figures show that speeding is still a major problem. International research shows that excessive speed is the cause of one third of fatal road accidents," Flemish Minister of Mobility Lydia Peeters said.
A recent study found that the majority of Flemish motorists between the ages of 18 and 54 believe it is important to stick to the speed limit, while more than half of the respondents realised the chances of causing a traffic accident when driving faster than permitted to be rather high to very high.
However, 28% of drivers still think they can drive faster than the speed limit without endangering others (down from 40% in 2020).
"Speed influences both the chance of an accident and its severity. Tackling the issue of speed is therefore very important to reduce the number of road accident victims in Flanders," Peeters explained.
More checks and raising awareness
Peeters noted that the attitude towards speeding among Flemish motorists is slowly but surely evolving, "although I would have preferred to see this reflected in the traffic accident statistics or in a lower number of fines for speeding."
The region has already increased traffic checks through, among other things, new section controls and regular police speed camera marathons, but in light of these statistics, Peeters is launching a new campaign to emphasise that the "speed limit is the safety limit" together with the VSV.
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"With the new campaign, we want to emphasise once again that the speed limits are there for a reason: when you drive too fast, you see less. As a result, the risks of a serious accident are real."
The campaign will run in the region throughout April, with 314 posters being placed along Flemish main roads, alongside radio commercials on Flanders' most popular stations.
