9th August 2018, 14:04
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| BHPian  Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Nagpur
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| Road ecosystem in the Netherlands - Perspective of an expat For a long time, I had an urge to write about the road ecosystem in the Netherlands in particular and Europe in general. Having been in the system for the past 4 years and driving for almost 3000 km, I think I acquired a fair idea of the complete set-up. Introduction A one-line statement would be, "it is not just the road but the whole ecosystem of users, city planners and enforcers". The roads are not just well-built but neatly integrated into a bigger system, keeping users in mind. The level of planning and maintenance is simply amazing. The entire system is backed up with proper infrastructure to monitor and regulate traffic. On top of that, the general order and discipline of the road users are overwhelming. There is no doubting the fact the system is backed by strong research. But some insights that the Dutch have about developing an efficient road system could be termed "accidental" as well. To begin with, they got lucky! Thanks to the colonial resources and the World War. The abundant resources helped them make mistakes and learn from it. The war helped them get rid of the bad designs that would eventually be reconstructed properly. Whole cities were built from scratch after the war destroyed it partly. This helped the Dutch achieve the balance between all road users (cyclists, pedestrians, public transport and vehicle users). Some images of the ecosystem,  On the left, one can see a 2 storey Bicycle/Car parking. Trams in peace with other traffic.  A busy bus station. Often bus stations and railway stations are integrated providing seamless connectivity.  Bird's view of a city.  Fortunately, we didn't have such a destruction from war but unfortunately, our cities had to continuously evolve to each generation above the old existing infrastructure. Although, we are definitely seeing improvements they are very slow and inefficient. We must somehow figure out a way in between to solve this problem with less destruction! Here I would be summarising the aspects that I think are significant and are different than ours.
I would also like to add in advance that I don't imply that copying/following the same system here will solve our problems since the problems are unique to our place. For instance, if we have to make all the vehicles going straight in a busy junction wait in a single lane, then we will probably have a queue till our doorstep. We seem to have too many vehicles for our roads even with very low penetration(less than 10 in 1000 people own a car). So, we still have to figure out our own solution. Part 1: Perception of the road To put it simply, any road is treated and handled like a "live-wire" rather than considering it as an extension of a building's entrance. My speculation lead to the belief that it all starts with a good City plan. There is a stark difference in how cities are planned and built. The presence of most shops/restaurants in one part of the city (often called City Centres / Village Squares) definitely helps in decongesting the other roads. Provided, the city has proper parking and public transportation for that area. Most of the European cities that I have been to, have such a dedicated city centre. Also, the villages have the same layout. The inner roads of such places are often narrow and of Belgian pavement style. All private vehicles are banned and are strictly pedestrian only. The loading trucks are given a specific timeslot, mostly after opening times to enter. It is the same case for the weekly markets. Often there is a local market that draws a considerable crowd during the day. The roads are locked for the vehicles and the seller's vehicle are neatly put in place well before the start of the day. This results in a good shopping experience for seller and buyer. Regular road users know for certain that a particular road is closed in a certain day. Some images of the central shopping areas a.k.a city centre.    Part 2: Traffic Management I classify the management as following sub-parts,
Traffic Estimation In order to plan the road construction and regulate traffic, there are permanent and temporary sensors embedded on the road surface to count the number of vehicles. This induction strips also act as detectors in big junctions to help manage the traffic lights. If the strips don't detect any vehicle then the signal remains Red for that section. A permanent set-up in the highway,  Source: https://metrocount.com A temporary set-up,  Source: http://www.hellopro.fr/ I once saw such a temporary counter on a cycle path with the count being displayed publicly with an appreciation message about preventing pollution! That is a very subtle nudge to cycle! Live Traffic monitoring Traffic on highways is continuously monitored through live video feeds and that enables the closing/opening of lanes based on traffic. In the Netherlands, the rightmost lane which is normally used only when a vehicle is broken-down is opened to traffic in the peak hours! And they can also close down a lane for a particular stretch well in advance due to an accident or road work. All lanes have separate information panels instructing the drivers about the ideal speed. Tunnel constructions are given particular care to ensure proper emergency exits and ventilation system. A dedicated FM frequency is allocated that broadcasts emergency messages in a tunnel in case of any mishaps. The traffic flow is constantly monitored and reviewed as and when necessary. De-congestion Techniques A simple logic that is followed to keep the traffic to the minimum in the city is incentivising the public transportation usage. The system in the Netherlands has an integrated smart card for all modes that is widely accepted throughout the Netherlands. This prevents waiting in ticket counters and vending machines after each trip. One can top-up once and keep travelling till it drains. One can also select plans that will provide a 40% discount for travel in trains on non-peak hours! All the money spent on Public Transport is tax-free. The Dutch students can enjoy the transportation for free. Apart from promoting public transport, some key differences in infrastructure also help this cause. Remarkable ones are the dedicated "Bus lane". "P+R" Park and Ride is a special arrangement on the outskirts of big cities like Amsterdam, which one can use when visiting crowded traffic regions within the city. Here one can park their ride for a lower cost and use discounts on the public transport. This will be handy during football matches and conventions that draw in huge crowds. On the other hand, I have seen people abusing unused closed parking systems by using wooden boards to mimic a car exiting, so as to open the boom barrier from the inside! Image showing an exit for one such facility with the status of spots availability displayed!  More info here, https://www.iamsterdam.com/en/plan-y.../park-and-ride Trucks are banned from highways on the weekends and even during the night in some EU countries. This helps to a great extent in keeping the highways flowing. Trucks overtaking each other is one of the big bottlenecks and is often regulated with dedicated road signs preventing trucks to overtake each other. Another decongestion technique is utilising water transport. The Dutch are smart to keep their rivers flowing in good condition throughout the year. The water level is heavily regulated via the small canals to prevent flooding of the low plains.  One can always see a car and a bicycle onboard such ferry.  Another popular solution that helps the Netherlands is the wide usage of bicycles. Bicycles have altogether removed the need for 3 wheeler 'Autos' and decreases the taxis on the road. It also reduces the dependency on the public transportation systems. Even the elderly and specially-abled have custom vehicles that give them the freedom to shop and roam on their own wish. And the infrastructure gladly accommodates them. Think about inclusive mobility system! Some scooters that can even be driven inside buildings.   Source: http://www.kampseedorf.com/tag/blue/ One of the bike parks at a Railway Station. It is often difficult to find a vacant spot here on workdays!  Who would not want to cycle, if the roads are like these?  Clearly marked roads,  Dedicated roundabout for cycles,  Dedicated fly-over, world's first suspension bridge for cycles near Eindhoven  Dedicated signals for pedestrians and cyclists. Notice the yellow box that is the request switch. Not only is it convenient but also environment-friendly. The signals are also displayed near the eyesight for those waiting close to the line as it is often "pain in the neck" to constantly look up. But this is not followed for regular traffic where often there is only one point where the lights are located.  Speed enforcement Strict adherence to the rules is safeguarded by heavy fines. Especially the overspeeding fines are large and burn one's pocket easily for a few kilometres excess. One can easily have the license suspended with a big debit in the bank account. And the speed tickets reach you no matter who you are! So, do parking fines if parked inappropriately or for longer than intended. Needless to say about driving after a "drink" and using the mobile phones. Interesting analyses here, http://www.speedingeurope.com/netherlands/ But honestly, it is a cat-mouse game most of the time with the speed cameras since there are mobile Apps that indicate the location and are even integrated with GPS. Apart from the punishing stance, some road signs are designed with a light heart to convince drivers to stay within the speed limit. One example is the image below,  The fast lanes (left) in the highways are often paved with a rough texture in order to dissuade drivers from using it for long.  Traffic Regulation Priority - It is one of the biggest differences between our system and the system in the Netherlands. Road users have clear priority on who has to wait and who proceeds when there are multiple vehicles in a junction. Often, the priority is marked on the road with a triangle or as a signboard along the road. The 'shark's teeth' priority markings seen outside the famous Mercedes Benz Museum in Stuttgart. The traffic inside the roundabout gets higher priority than those entering it. So, the one who is entering the roundabout waits till there is enough gap to enter the roundabout.  Priority signs on the road,  Regulations not just in terms of height and width but also based on the weight of the vehicle. This is a representational image taken in a ferry,  Next is the method to reduce speed in residential areas that would be a sure hit in India. Instead of having speed breakers, the junctions are slightly elevated prompting the drivers to slow down and take notice. They are also paved with rough texture so it alerts the driver.  Cleaning Infrastructure It is more about the routine than the infrastructure. Dustbins are cleverly and generously placed at all points where one will require like park benches, bus-stops, city-centres and even in the buses! Apart from regular cleaning, the roads are cleaned immediately after a public celebration. I heard that this kind of social work is often assigned to petty criminals as part of their sentence. Cleaning convoy after a Carnival event. Notice the guys, one with a conventional broom while other has a massive vacuum device attached to his arm.  Most of the roads don't have sand dust mainly due to the presence of grass lawns on the sides. Abundant water and rainfall help!  Rain-water drain channels in all roads with elevated pavements on either side. So, it is not about building tarmac but also cables and pipes below properly.  Last edited by vivee90 : 6th September 2018 at 17:45. |
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9th August 2018, 14:06
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| BHPian Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Nagpur
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| re: Road ecosystem in the Netherlands - Perspective of an expat Part 2: The driver license system "Driving as a privilege rather than a right" Whenever I wondered what led to the inculcation of such road manners among the road users, the driver license process stood out. Of course, there is also the role of infrastructures like traffic monitoring system, strict enforcement mechanisms and intelligent road signals. But they are only a passive part of the system that is built on the basis of the road user's behavior. I strongly believe that the core of such order and discipline is the strict driver license approval system and the training that goes into it. I reiterate, it is just not the strict examination but the training and the meticulous planning behind the whole process. Below I will try to explain it and share my experiences, Types of Driving Licenses in the Netherlands Category A - Mainly two wheelers (some 3 wheelers too) Sub-category A1 - 125 cc and Power less than 11 kW, Minimum age 18Category AM - Smaller mopeds and scooters. Minimum Age 16 Category B - Vehicles with a maximum weight of 3500 kg, Minimum Age 18 Category C - For Campers and trucks, Minimum Age 21 Category D - Busses with a capacity of more than 8 passengers, Minimum age 24 Category E - For trailers along with Category B, C and D. The Process of getting a Driving License (DL) The driving license approval process is basically divided into two main steps. One is a theory exam (on a computer) and another being the actual driving itself. Only after passing the theory exam is one eligible for the practical part. However, driving lessons can be started even before passing the theory exam. The driving exam can be scheduled only through a driving school. Costs of getting DL Getting a DL is an expensive affair in the Netherlands. The examination fees and the training fees together cost quite a fortune. The theory examination fees are EUR 38 for English language and EUR 31 in Dutch. The practical exam costs EUR 103. Before applying for the exam, one has to make a self-declaration about one's health that costs another EUR 34. The total of this (about EUR 200) might look like a decent amount but it is not all. Here come the training and preparation expenses. The examination agency states that the average cost for getting a DL is approximately EUR 2300 (2017 figure). Of course, this will increase or decrease based on how many times a candidate retakes each exam and how many driving lessons one requires. The split up is as follows, (Source: https://www.cbr.nl/rijbewijstips/kos...jbewijs-halen/ ) Driving lessons in a school: EUR 1600 (Average 40 lessons of 50 minutes costing EUR 40 each) Theory exam: EUR 75 based on an average of total 2.4 attempts per person Driving exam: EUR 500 based on average 2 attempts per person and driving school fees. (the test is taken in the driving school’s vehicle) Mock Exams: EUR 80 based on 40% of candidates taking it Processing fee- Municipality: EUR 39 Photograph charges: EUR 10. It is also possible to have a mock exam that costs EUR 143 including result- assessment reports and tips from the CBR itself, for those who are not so confident. In fact, one of my colleagues who has 3 kids complained that it cost him a month's pay everytime one of his kids gets the DL!! What impresses me the most is the level of planning and empathy in the process. There is a special option to have a “Fear of failing” exam for those of us with not so calm nerves. This special driving test is conducted in a relaxed atmosphere with specially trained examiners with more time and an option to take a break during the test. The video below(in Dutch with English subtitles) will show how it is organised and the features of this special test. By the way, it is EUR 148 if you will. The inclusion level is evident even in their website design. The tips section is designed to cater to the reading habits of teens in memes style with smileys strewn all over. This gives an informal touch that the users will relate to. (Refer : https://www.cbr.nl/rijbewijstips/rijschool-kiezen/ ) The written exam The overall pass percentage for first-time exam givers is around 40% and 58% when attempted after a mock exam! (Source: https://www.cbr.nl/rijbewijstips/tussentijdse-toets/ ) The procedure is somewhat similar to our own competitive entrance exams. It is done on a touchscreen computer with full video surveillance. The dedicated examination centre gave me a feeling of writing a GRE or JEE in India. All electronic devices are locked out and the place is swarmed by video cameras. The first time I was there, I could see a lot of anxious parents in the waiting hall while some candidates were still engrossed in last minute preparation. I was quite surprised when I saw a candidate rejoicing enthusiastically for his result in the theory exam. The scenario there very much reminded me of the JEE days! Dutch parents seem to get very serious and anxious about the whole driving license acquiring part. Syllabus Yes! Syllabus. The content includes a plethora of rules and regulations that govern the road. It is divided into the following 25 categories A: General traffic legislation (Road Traffic Act) B: Regulations regarding driving entitlements and driving licences C: Vehicle equipment and design, the loading and towing of the vehicles D: Technical aspects, maintenance & inspection of vehicles E: Use of seat belts & helmets and the seating of passengers F: Environmentally friendly & fuel efficient driving G: Hazards related to the condition of the driver (tiredness, proficiency, physical and mental condition, alcohol and medications) H: Hazards related to the driver’s vehicle characteristics and condition J: Hazards related to the presence & behaviour of other road-users JG: Hazards related to the presence & behaviour of other road-users in the hazard perception questions K: Hazards related to road conditions, visibility & weather circumstances KG: Hazards related to road conditions, visibility & weather circumstances in the hazard perception questions L: Behaviour at the scene of accidents & breakdowns en-route M: Giving way at junctions (perpendicular priority) N: Giving way when turning-off (parallel priority) & at exits O: Giving way to the blind or disabled persons & pedestrians P: Giving way to the emergency services (priority vehicles), military convoys & trams Q: Performing special manoeuvres & giving way during performing R: Road placement & positioning S: Speed T: Overtaking U: Stopping and parking V: Giving signs and signals W: The use of lights X: Traffic signs Y: Traffic lights & indications Z: Road markings (Source : https://www.driveright.nl/theory/theory-test/ ) There are books and online practice modules for all the topics. At the end of the exam, there is an option to get the assessment card by email after the exam. That will list the alphabets corresponding to the syllabus part that the user has committed a mistake in. Pattern The theory exam is further divided into two parts. Hazard Perception This section has 25 scenarios in which the candidate is supposed to judge the required action he is supposed to take. The options that the user can select are Brake, Release accelerator Or Do nothing. The scenario is presented via an image clearly depicting the speed, the status of lights, views in the mirrors and any required road signs for judging. The hard part is that it is timed, like in real life. So, it is not just the judgement but also judgement duration that is important here. Each scenario stays on the screen for 8 seconds maximum and if there is no answer, it is replaced by the next question automatically. I found this part quite tricky as it is not about remembering rules and facts but making actual decisions. Often, one's judgement varies and it took some practice to understand the judgement rational behind the questions. The pass mark is 13 out of 25. An example screenshot,  (Source: traffictrainer.nl) General Theory It consists of 40 questions and is relatively easier once the rules become familiar. The margin for error is not much since 35 is the pass mark. The questions are in a variety of format, typical ones being Multiple choices, number fill-in and objective Yes/No. The special format is the one that requires selecting the priority of road users in a particular traffic scenario. All the questions can be done in the candidate’s pace but should be within 23 minutes for the whole section. A video explaining the exam procedure and the exam setting. Waiting room, Cafe, Lockers and token system are an integral part of every theory exam centre. Some peculiar questions that I remember are,
The different speed limits,  The Driving test As you might have guessed by the provision of “faalangstexamen” or the “fear of failing tests” the regular exam itself is conducted very strictly. Everything is diligently observed, right from looking at the mirrors and turning the head over shoulders to look at the side blind spot. The most dreaded moments for a candidate are when one has to deal with reluctant pedestrians. Reacting conservatively or driving bullishly leads to failing, most of the times. Without knowing the rules, it is difficult to judge who passes first, the car or the pedestrian! Things only get complicated when there is a tram in the scene. There are no mandatory exercises on the skid-pad, unlike Scandinavianinavian countries. However, there are special tracks that one can visit to get some practice. Some of the popular rules that candidates miss in my opinion, 1. Always stop at a zebra crossing when there is a pedestrian around waiting or about to cross the road. The only exception is when there is already a traffic light signalling you to go. Persons not riding their cycle but just tugging it along is also treated as a pedestrian. 2. The above rule is normally easy to follow but not when beside a bus stop. It is always advised to pass a bus waiting at the bus stop cautiously. 3. If there are no priority markings on the road, the vehicle coming from the right always gets the priority to go first. 4. In a roundabout, the vehicles in the roundabout get the priority unless marked otherwise in the road. 5. It is required to drive near the speed limit, candidates have been failed because they were driving too slow. 6. At traffic lights, one is expected to be always in first gear with the clutch pressed ready to go rather than be relaxed in neutral. There are some ridiculously short traffic lights that are Green only for few seconds. 7. Driving in High Beam is not allowed when driving behind or opposing a vehicle. 8. Fog lamps are allowed only when the visibility is reduced to less than 50 m because of snow or Fog. 9. Cyclists should mandatorily have lights at the front(White) and back(red). I have personally seen my friend fined EUR 50 for this. 10. The speed limits are not always displayed on the road. One has to remember the appropriate speed limit based on the area and the vehicle type. So, the speed limit on the same stretch road varies between a car and a car with a trailer. All roads in the Netherlands are speed restricted with a maximum speed of 130 km/hr in some highway stretches. 11. There is also a positive speed limit where vehicles not capable of driving at a certain minimum speed are barred from entering highways and main roads. This helps in traffic flow by preventing slow moving vehicles like tractors away from arterial roads. Sample rules of the highway,  Last edited by vivee90 : 6th September 2018 at 16:31. |
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9th August 2018, 14:44
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| BHPian Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Nagpur
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| re: Road ecosystem in the Netherlands - Perspective of an expat Some of the quirky aspects that I observed 1. In the Netherlands, the buses have a different schedule on the weekend and weekdays! 2. Most shops are open only up to 6 in the evening, one needs a special license to be open beyond that. 3. Meals are mostly very quick and informal. 4. Interestingly, the Dutch enforcement department has their speed cameras concealed behind the information boards in the highway unlike in Germany where they are kept in clear visibility. The Dutch speed camera,  The more obvious German counterpart,  Source: google images 5. Trailers that are "rail-friendly". Specially designed cargo beds that can take the whole trailers. Note that the trailers have their own registration plates.  The loading of whole trucks with the tractor unit as well. It doesn't need cranes and reduces logistics time. 6. The mini Panama Canal in the Netherlands. This helps ships/boats in entering and exiting different canals with varying water levels. The Dutch regulate the water level in each canal to help efficient water flow and prevent flooding.  7. Mobile billboard! The picture is self-explanatory.  8. The highly popular caravans/motorhomes is a common sight in the roads during summer and vacation days. Serene spots have special arrangements to host these vehicles. Some Dutch people I know, visit the same vacation spot for many years! They just see it as relaxation rather than exploring.  9. Massive ferries that help in transportation between disconnected islands. This picture is from Norway.  10. Blue roof illumination in a tunnel in Norway. Not only does it make it look good but also prevents drowsiness induced by low light. Especially in countries which have very long tunnels.  11. Elder and specially-abled have suitable vehicles that gives them the freedom to move like anyone else.  12. Unique cycle design that has a driving position of a Formula car  I hope it was an interesting and factful read. Do feel free to share any possible solution that will improve our very own system. Last edited by vivee90 : 6th September 2018 at 17:50. |
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6th September 2018, 18:40
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6th September 2018, 19:38
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| BHPian  | Re: Road ecosystem in the Netherlands - Perspective of an expat Very elaborate and nicely written. You have penned down almost every aspect of European road experience.  I specially love the junctions where autobahns cross eachother and feel these are well planned accident-avoidance infrastructure. I have driven in most of the countries of Europe and majorly in Germany with over 45k kms in last few years. With the love for my country, I always wish if we had similar conditions too. One thing I can proudly say is rules on paper about driving is not significantly different in Europe and in India. However the problem on Indian roads is that the licensing system is filled with corruption and people do not want to follow the textbook rules. Totally agree with you that its not about just driving, but the ecosystem. Sad that in India unless there is a huge tweak in procedure to get license, infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists etc. the situation on our road is expected to go worse specially with increasing vehicles and poor law enforcement. -UB |
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6th September 2018, 19:51
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| Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Delhi-NCR
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6th September 2018, 19:55
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| Team-BHP Support   | Re: Road ecosystem in the Netherlands - Perspective of an expat Quote:
Posts like these add invaluable information to the forum. Especially for someone like me who has never travelled out of India, its truly enlightening to see all the details that has gone into planning this traffic 'ecosystem'. This level of detail can never be had with a travelogue or YouTube video. Thanks for taking the time for penning this down.  | |
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6th September 2018, 21:24
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7th September 2018, 10:11
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| Re: Road ecosystem in the Netherlands - Perspective of an expat Quote:
That 'if...' can be followed by any measure you can think of, and we still won't have a road system that is anywhere as good as this. It is just a fact that I have learnt to accept and live with. | |
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7th September 2018, 11:08
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7th September 2018, 11:26
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| Re: Road ecosystem in the Netherlands - Perspective of an expat Nice observations. Quote:
Regarding the third point, they eat a quick sandwich which mostly has a cold meat. | |
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7th September 2018, 11:40
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7th September 2018, 12:00
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| BHPian  Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Trivandrum
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7th September 2018, 12:15
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7th September 2018, 12:20
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