February 14, 2022
The Agency for Roads and Traffic (Agentschap Wegen en Verkeer, AWV) has decided to reduce the number of traffic signs along the Flemish roads. This means that superfluous signs have to disappear and only essential signs, like those indicating the allowed maximum speed (C43), will be saved. The measure was announced a few years ago, […]
February 11, 2022
The European Parliament wants to make batteries more sustainable by reducing their environmental and social impact. Therefore, the Environment Committee has adopted a new proposal to strengthen the EU rules for the design, production, and disposal of batteries. The parliamentary committee wants batteries to carry a label that reflects their carbon footprint, an upper limit […]
February 09, 2022
Last year, the Brussels police checked more than 33 million motorists on driving speed, and 68 568 of them were caught speeding. That is 17% more than in 2020, but the number of checks was 21% higher too. More than 30 million of all speed checks were registered by the automatic flash cameras on the […]
February 08, 2022
“Rasen ist out.” In Germany, the famous road safety quote is receiving strong political support these days. The renewed discussion on whether the German Autobahn should get speed restrictions were fuelled after Czech billionaire Radim Passer pushed his Bugatti Chiron to 417 km/hour on a stretch of highway between Berlin and Hannover. The event was […]
February 08, 2022
The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) is slightly optimistic about car sales in 2022 but also deeply worried about the pace of charging infrastructure roll-out. “It’s lagging way behind consumer demand for electrified cars,” an ACEA press release comments. “The strong performance of electrically-chargeable cars is very welcome news,” stated ACEA President and CEO of […]
February 08, 2022
Increasing numbers of offenses against payment of road traffic tax have been identified with foreign number plates and trader number plates. This is shown by figures from the Flemish Tax Administration (VLABEL). Offenses with commercial plates account for 20%, while fraud with foreign number plates accounts for 11%. Matthias Diependaele (N-VA), Flemish Minister of Finance, […]
February 08, 2022
Flemish Minister of Patrimonial Estate, Matthias Diependaele (N-VA), supports Zuhal Demir (N-VA), Flemish Minister of the Environment, in her combat against the construction of six wind turbines in Dalhem (Wallonia). The turbines are planned near the border with Voeren (Flanders) and will “significantly impact the natural beauty and agricultural character of this touristic region,” Diependaele […]
February 03, 2022
In a response to the ruling of the Belgian Council of State, Ghent decided to scrap the ‘discrimination’ in allowing an unlimited access pass for vintage cars older than 40 years into the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) and not for younger classics between 30 and 40. Now all classic cars have to buy a €35 […]
February 01, 2022
The 55 billion euros of fossil fuel subsidies handed out annually by EU governments threaten to derail the union’s ambitious climate plans, the European Court of Auditors (ECA) said on Monday. “Taxing energy can support efforts to combat climate change. But current tax levels do not reflect the extent to which different energy sources pollute,” […]
January 31, 2022
The bicycle brigade of the police zone Brussels Capital Ixelles recorded 87 757 offenses in 2021. That comes down to an average of 240 fines a day. In 2021, there were 48% fewer violations of car users of the use of bicycle paths than in 2020 and 23% fewer violations that impeded public transport. However, […]
January 28, 2022
This year, Alderman for Mobility in Liège, Gilles Foret (MR), is planning an awareness campaign for the private sector regarding secure bicycle parking facilities. He aims to push companies to swap parking spots reserved for cars to ones for bicycles. The TEC is also pushing for bicycle facilities. This Thursday, the Walloon transport company announced […]
January 27, 2022
British car drivers will be forced to use the ‘Dutch reach’ method to open one of the car doors. The new measure is one of the eleven new driving rules due to be added to the Highway Code and comes into force from Saturday. And things are getting serious across the channel: offenders pay a […]
January 26, 2022
As part of the Region’s ‘Good Move’ mobility plan, 50 zones will benefit from profound road infrastructure redesigns by 2030. Schaerbeek leads the way with around twenty streets becoming one-way, the introduction of a filter that will only allow public transport or bicycles to go through, and a complete ban on all outside cars on […]
January 25, 2022
Since the corona crisis, the number of young drivers (18-34 years old) using drugs while driving increased gradually. The percentage of those who admit driving while intoxicated – at least once a month – went up from 11% to 19%. Not only drugs are a problem in traffic. Also, the combination of driving and the […]
January 20, 2022
Three-quarters of the advertisements for cars are still promoting vehicles with an internal combustion engine (ICE). That is the result of a Greenpeace survey looking at 686 online ads from Belgium’s seven most popular car brands. Almost half of the advertisements (49%) promote classic gasoline and diesel cars, just over one-fourth (27%) is eulogizing hybrids, […]
January 19, 2022
In an interview with four European media, the CEO of Stellantis, Carlos Tavares, gave his thoughts on Europe’s campaign to phase out the internal combustion engine by 2035. The 63-year-old company director believes that switching to more expensive EVs without a progressive transition could create a social fracture. One year after the fusion of French […]
January 18, 2022
According to a YouGov survey, a large majority of people support stricter EU car emission rules for manufacturers to make cars as clean as possible. YouGov, commissioned by Transport & Environment (T&E), questioned more than 8 000 people from seven European countries: France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, Roumania, and the Czech Republic. More than three-quarters […]
January 18, 2022
One thousand thirty-eight drivers are currently driving around with an alcolock in Belgium. That is what traffic institute Vias found out. It is the first time that the mark of 1 000 alcolocks has been exceeded in Belgium. In the corona year 2020, 583 alcolocks were installed, of which Vias provided the framework for 322 […]
January 17, 2022
The kilometer charge for trucks works because the proportion of clean trucks on Belgian roads is steadily increasing, with 80% of the trucks being of the latest Euro 6 standard. The increase is so significant, in fact, that Viapass is proposing making the rules stricter in the future, even for electric trucks. In 2021, revenues […]
January 17, 2022
Flemish Minister of Domestic Policy, Bart Somers (Open Vld), annuls Bonheiden’s decision to sign a public-private cooperation (Publiek-Private Samenwerking, PPS) on average speed checks. According to Somers, the contractual conditions of the private consortium TaaS (Trajectcontrole-as-a-Service) are unacceptable and at least give the impression that local autonomy will be undermined. Since February 1st, 2021, cities […]
January 17, 2022
Since 1 January 2022, Euro 4 diesel vehicles, or the last generation of diesel vehicles without a particulate filter, have been banned from the Brussels Region due to the low emission zone (LEZ), at the risk of a fine of 350 euros. However, the planned support for the households who can – in exchange for […]
January 14, 2022
This Thursday, the European Court of Justice overturned the partial annulment of a European regulation relaxing Euro 6 emission standards. It had been requested and obtained back in 2018 by the cities of Brussels, Paris, and Madrid, which saw the relaxing as a ‘license to pollute’. After the dieselgate scandal was brought to light, the […]
January 14, 2022
Flanders is planning to intensify the enforcement of the passing restrictions for truckers when it rains. The Flemish authorities, therefore, want to equip 19 locations with precipitation sensors by the end of this year. They should help the police force to check on infringements. The Flemish traffic regulation stipulates that trucks of 7,5 tons or […]
January 13, 2022
A recent study ordered by the Swiss canton of Valais reveals that, on mountain roads, plug-in hybrid vehicles emit up to four times more CO2 than their homologated data. One of the authors even qualified those cars as a swindle. Following that report, the canton of Valais has withdrawn subsidies for plug-in hybrids. Switzerland isn’t […]
January 13, 2022
Officers of the Malines police force frowned their brows seeing a man on an e-scooter passing an electronic speed billboard indicating he was doing 43 km per hour in Zone 30. The man was stopped, and the e-scooter was confiscated to be put on a test bank. There it showed the two-wheeler was capable of […]
January 07, 2022
According to the CSC National Secretary in charge of Wallonia, Marc Becker, free public transport in Wallonia is a social affair in addition to an issue of mobility. Such a measure would help to reduce social inequalities. The union notes that companies should also pitch in to finance free public transport, which it estimates at […]
January 06, 2022
The Dutch government wants companies with a hundred employees or more to measure and report the emission levels of their staff. Employers will be forced to register how much CO2 their staff emits while traveling for the job or commuting. Having an overview of all these emission data and acting accordingly should finally lead to […]
January 05, 2022
German air transport group Lufthansa is set to cancel 33 000 flights by late March due to the effect of the resurging pandemic. However, to keep its allocated take-off and landing slots at European airports, the airline will have to ensure 18 000 flights, full or empty. Belgian Federal Mobility Minister, Georges Gilkinet (Ecolo), asks […]
January 04, 2022
In the French department of Yvelines, near Paris, a new kind of automated police control has been installed. This time, for the first time in France, it controls noise from scooters and motorbikes. From this Tuesday on, the noise level meter will be active in Saint-Lambert-des-Bois, and after its homologation, fines of €135 per vehicle […]
January 04, 2022
Three liberal members of Parliament have submitted a bill for the introduction of a green courtesy light for voluntary firefighters. Jasper Pillen, Tim Vandenput, and Tania De Jonge (Open Vld) launched the idea, and are convinced that it could improve traffic safety. Fire rescue teams usually are equipped with eye-catching trucks, sirens, and rotating lights, […]
January 03, 2022
From 1 January this year, France restricts international freight transport by trucks over 44 tons. More than 40 tons will only be permitted for intermodal transport by French trucks. France has ended all ambiguity surrounding the maximum weight for cross-border transport with the new legislation. The UPTR, the Professional Union of Transport and Logistics in […]
December 30, 2021
As of 1 March 2022, all automotive ads published in France will have to feature a new warning notice about pollution. It will read: “For short journeys, favor walking or cycling”, “Think about carpooling”, or “Use public transport every day”. Just like food and beverages advertisements are accompanied with the mention “Eat five fruits and […]
December 30, 2021
According to recent data unveiled by the Walloon Minister of Road Safety, Valérie De Bue (MR), out of the 959 615 cars presented at the technical inspection in Wallonia between early January and late November, 25 140 were over six months overdue. Drivers had to pay a €48 surcharge. The Hainaut leads the pack with […]
December 30, 2021
The excavation of the PFOS-contaminated soil of the Oosterweel works has to be stopped for the time being. The Belgian Council of State ordered this in a judgment on Wednesday. It has provisionally suspended the technical report on which construction company Lantis is basing its decision to move the contaminated soil on the left bank […]
December 30, 2021
The Association of parents with children who died in a traffic accident (Ouders van Verongelukte Kinderen, OVK) has launched an original action to sensitize motorists. They’re symbolically offering their children’s empty rooms on the booking.com website to draw car drivers’ attention to traffic safety. “Safety can safe lives,” the parents say. The action is intended […]
December 29, 2021
The Dutch are in lockdown again. Shops, bars, and restaurants are closed, and the Dutch are massively crossing the borders for a day out in Belgium, despite calls of the Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte (VVD), the Dutch rail NS, and Antwerp governor Cathy Berx to stay home. As a consequence, traffic on roads and […]
December 28, 2021
Last Friday, the Brussels government has approved the third version of the new parking decree. This new decree defines the regulation of the Brussels Region’s parking policy for the coming years and is in line with the principles of the coalition agreement. Parking in the streets will become more expensive in the entire Region. Alternatives, […]
December 27, 2021
A flexible season ticket for part-time home-working commuters will be introduced by the Belgian railway company SNCB/NMBS in 2022. Subscribers need a smartphone to be able to use it. This ‘flex-abo’ will be available for the bigger clients of the national railway company (companies that offer a season ticket to their employees) – representing some […]
December 27, 2021
On January 1st, 2021, the Brussels Region introduced the 30 km per hour zone. One year later Brussels sees the positive effects of the measure. The average speed in the city center lowered, the number of accidents went down, and despite the lower speed, the average travel time remained almost the same. But, according to […]
December 22, 2021
The Flemish Road Safety Foundation starts a campaign for truck drivers and transport companies to raise their awareness to wear their seatbelts better and more often because research shows that there is still room for improvement. A survey by the Flemish Traffic Research Foundation (Vlaamse Stichting Verkeerskunde, VSV) among truck drivers in Flanders has shown […]
December 21, 2021
The Federal and Flemish Governments want to accelerate the electrification of the Belgian car fleet. The phasing out of the tax deduction for company cars with combustion engines will significantly increase the number of electric vehicles in the Belgian fleet over the next few years. To charge these vehicles quickly, Flemish Minister for Mobility, Lydia […]
December 21, 2021
The local council of Brussels has approved new parking regulations for the city center. Parking in the streets will become more expensive as of May 2021. The measure is intended to discourage long-term parking and open up public space. Brussels has indicated ‘green zones’ and ‘grey zones’ in the city center where parking regimes are […]
December 21, 2021
The Biden administration has adjusted the emission rules for cars softened during the Trump era. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published the new guidelines on Monday. It wants the car manufacturers to be 5 to 10% better in their energy performance between 2023 and 2026. In a press release, EPA confirms that “these are […]
December 20, 2021
The Congressional Committee for Justice has given the green light for the creation of a central public prosecutor’s office for traffic safety. The goal is to reduce the administrative workload and to centralize the settlement of traffic fines. The text of the bill was approved by the majority parties. N-VA and PVDA abstained from voting. […]
December 17, 2021
As part of Macron’s ‘France 2030’ recovery plan, automotive subcontractors and equipment manufacturers will get a 300-million-euro support fund for their diversification. Additionally, €100 million will support employment in affected industrial areas. Minister for the Industry, Agnès Pannier-Runacher (LREM), announced that these funds would accompany structuring projects to help a sector not only hit by […]
December 17, 2021
The weekly meeting of the Brussels government was suspended on Thursday and postponed after the departure of Mobility Minister Elke Van den Brandt (Groen) due to disagreement over the proposed new parking fees. According to L’Echo newspaper and Belga news agency, the discussion was about a draft ordinance on parking policy and a draft decree […]
December 16, 2021
The Flemish Foundation for Traffic Science (Vlaamse Stichting Verkeerskunde, VSV) is launching a free learning platform, called ‘MijnrijbewijsA.be’, for motorcyclists and aspiring motorcyclists. It aims to inform users of motorized two-wheelers about the safety aspects of motorcycling and the applicable traffic rules. The platform is free of charge and addressed to all interested parties. To […]
December 16, 2021
After nine months of formation and debate, the new to form Dutch government (still to be accepted in the Parliament) has presented its major guidelines. One of them is the introduction of a kind of road pricing, taxing the use of the car, not its possession. The system is to be fully operational in… 2030. […]
December 16, 2021
Flemish Minister of Domestic Policy, Bart Somers (Open Vld), has asked Flemish municipalities not to sign any PPS on average speed checks until further notice. Such a PPS is public-private cooperation (Publiek-Private Samenwerking, PPS) municipalities can set up to have private companies install and manage average speed checks. A recently introduced decree allows local authorities […]
December 15, 2021
The Mobility Commission of the Belgian federal Parliament has given the green light for more stringent rules (and higher fines) concerning the use of electronic devices (like smartphones) behind the wheel. “The current legislation dates back to the pre-smartphone era,” says MP Joris Vandenbroucke (Vooruit). “We definitely have to actualize the definition in the highway […]
December 15, 2021
The Court of Appeal in Brussels condemns the Flemish government for its failing air quality policy. It’s the final judgment in Greenpeace’s lawsuit against Flemish authorities, a case that started in 2017. As a consequence, the Flemish government has to submit an ambitious action plan and pay €750 000 damages. Greenpeace will use the money […]
December 15, 2021
The EU Commission has presented a four-pillar Action Plan for a cleaner, greener, and smarter mobility on the cross-border transport network through Europe and its nine major corridors. That means shifting more passengers and freight to rail and inland waterways, the roll-out of charging points every 60 km along highways, hydrogen filling stations at 150 […]
December 14, 2021
The German government is extending subsidies for electrified cars by one year. In 2022, the purchase of an e-car will continue to be subsidized up to a maximum of 9 000 euros and 6 750 euros for plug-in hybrids. These subsidies, introduced in July 2020, have played a vital role in the record increase in […]
December 13, 2021
The Minister of Mobility, Philippe Henry, has just launched a proposal for another car tax scheme in Wallonia. Where the actual taxing is now based on fiscal horsepower, the new one wants to consider CO2 emissions and car mass. The new formula wants to take into account the current registration tax, the CO2 emissions, the […]
December 13, 2021
Three additional Chinese carmakers, NIO, Xpeng, and Lynk & Co, have joined Volkswagen’s open CO2 Pool to help achieve the EU goals for 2021-2022. Those are set at a maximum of 95 g/km average CO2 output over the entire fleet of newly sold cars. The latter was published by Berlin-based EU industry market analyst Schmidt […]
December 13, 2021
All new trains of Belgian railway company NMBS/SNCB will have at least eight places for bicycles starting in 2025. This is stated in a preliminary draft law by Minister of Mobility, Georges Gilkinet (Ecolo), the Council of Ministers approved on Friday. The obligation will apply to new trains that are put into service. Existing trains […]
December 10, 2021
On Thursday, the Brussels government approved a temporary solution allowing LVC drivers (mainly Uber drivers) to resume their taxi services under strictly defined conditions. The arrangement will run until the ordinance on the reform of the taxi sector comes into force. According to Minister-President Rudi Vervoort (PS), the temporary solution allows around 2 000 LVC […]
December 09, 2021
Flanders wants to introduce a 30 kph zone for roads in town centers and residential areas, and a 50 kph limit in traffic zones. However, Flemish Minister of Mobility, Lydia Peeters (Open Vld), does not adhere to the idea of strictly imposing speed limits in built-up areas. Minister Peeters, therefore, developed a consideration frame that […]
December 09, 2021
After Brussels and London, the set-employed status of Uber’s drivers’ is now also being questioned by the French justice system. The investigation for “concealed” work was opened in 2015 and was dormant for long. But the case was reactivated in 2020, and according to the Paris prosecutor’s office, it is now being closely watched again. […]
December 07, 2021
A study by PwC for the European association of automotive suppliers (CLEPA) shows that the actual electrification policy can cost up to half a million jobs in Europe. The association urgently calls for accompanying measures to attenuate the consequences. “There’s certainly a risk if we are focusing exclusively on electric vehicles,” says Sigrid de Vries, […]
