Traffic institute Vias calls for less leeway for speeding drivers

Today, in many places you can drive 55 kilometres per hour where only 50 kilometres per hour is allowed and still not get caught. That’s due to the technical tolerance margin used in Belgium. It compensates for any possible technical errors made by measuring devices.

The technical margin is 6 kilometres per hour for zones with a maximum speed limit up to 100 kilometres per hour. Above that, the margin is 6 percent of the permitted speed. On motorways, you currently only get fined if you are driving 129 kilometres per hour or more. In 30 km/h zones fines are issued to drivers doing 37 kilometres per hour or more.

"This technical margin dates back to an era when measuring devices were much less accurate," explains Stef Willems of Vias. "The current speed cameras and certainly average speed cameras can measure speed much more accurately, even down to the kilometre. So that margin of 6 kilometres per hour is quite liberal."

“Let’s do like the Dutch”

Vias is asking for this the technical margin be reduced to 3 kilometres per hour in zones where you are allowed a maximum of 100 kilometres per hour and to 3 percent on motorways. This would bring Belgium more in line with margins in neighbouring countries. In France, the technical margin is 5 kilometres per hour for speeds below 100 kilometres per hour and in the Netherlands it is as low as 3 kilometres per hour.

"My inbox is probably going to explode again, but no, the intention is not to fine more," Mr Willems stresses. "We do want more people to stick to the speed limit, instead of setting your cruise control 5 or 10 kilometres per hour too fast."

Being able to stop faster

Above all, Vias wants the average speed in traffic in Belgium to be reduced. "That will ensure that accidents can be avoided, because people will be able to stop more readily.  If people are driving faster, they just won't be able to stop in time."