The number of road deaths in the Netherlands has been steadily decreasing since the 1970s. This number rose for the first time in years in 2011. That year 661 people were killed in road accidents. The number of people seriously injured in road accidents has been increasing since 2006. No fewer than 19,200 individuals were seriously injured in traffic in 2010. Cyclists, elderly people and novice drivers are particularly at risk.
In the opinion of the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment and administrative and social partners, these figures mean that greater efforts are required in addition to the measures already in place. Together, they have agreed to take 23 additional measures, each of these being a concrete action item aimed at reducing the number of serious injuries and deaths that occur in traffic, since every casualty is one too many.
The measures were set out in mid-2012 in a document titled Incentive Policy for further Road Safety. All partners are working together as one to achieve the aims referred to. This brochure provides further information about the measures suggested in the Incentive Policy and the ideas behind them.