According to the latest accident figures, 266 severe accidents with injuries occur annually in Flanders during road works on regional roads and highways–an average of five accidents at a construction site every week. Six of them are fatal.
Most accidents happen in traffic jams before the construction sites or when driving past them. The ‘Rij veilig, wij veilig’ campaign (Drive safely, then we are safe) asks drivers to adhere strictly to the speed limit and signage.
New traffic situation
Road works often create new traffic situations—fewer or narrower lanes, axis shifts, or road diversions—that require driving more slowly and with extra attention.
Although most construction site accidents do not involve road workers, they are at great risk when drivers drive too fast or are distracted while working on the road.
Notifications via the app
Flemish Minister of Mobility and Public Works Annick De Ridder: “We announce our construction sites well in advance using fixed and dynamic signage, reduce speed where necessary, and ensure separate construction traffic. In consultation with the police, we also use mobile section checks in places where we know that people are systematically driving too fast.”
Extra attention is paid to the security of mobile construction sites. These works often occur at night and move slowly or remain stationary for only a few hours, protected by crash absorbers. Drivers can receive notifications from these mobile construction sites in traffic apps connected to Mobilidata.
