Since February, approximately 6,400 fines have been issued at level crossings in the Utrecht and North Holland regions due to the installation of new speed cameras. ProRail, the organization responsible for managing railway infrastructure in the Netherlands, reports that these fines are positively influencing behavior. According to ProRail, fewer road users are crossing level crossings when the red warning lights are active.
The first speed camera was installed in Bunnik in February. Today, the twelfth speed camera has become operational at a railway crossing on Stationsweg in Baarn. ProRail’s goal is to install speed cameras at a total of forty high-risk crossings across the Netherlands.
These speed cameras are strategically placed at what ProRail identifies as the “most risky level crossings.” Spokesperson Mirjam de Witte explains, “At these locations, we observe that whenever enforcement officers (BOAs) monitor them, a significant number of fines are issued.”
The speed cameras function by capturing the license plate of any vehicle that crosses the railway line while the red flashing lights are on. The recorded footage is then reviewed by an enforcement officer from ProRail to assess any violations.
According to Mark Eijbaard, an alderman, the railway crossing in Baarn is one of the most hazardous in the country and has long been a concern for the municipality. “There have been discussions in the past about potential solutions like building a tunnel, but that is financially unfeasible. The speed camera is, therefore, a practical and effective solution to enhance safety at this crossing.”
ProRail has observed a noticeable “change in behavior” since the cameras were introduced. In several locations, the number of fines issued has been halved. For example, in Bunnik, the average weekly fines decreased from 25 to 10. Similarly, in Bussum, the weekly fines dropped from 108 to 46 within the first five weeks of camera operation.