Traffic deaths on decline 01/10/2007 00:00

1 October 2007

BRUSSELS – The number of traffic deaths in Belgium has fallen by almost 30 percent over the past six years. The figures in Flanders in particular, where there were 331 fewer victims, contributed to this. Wallonia counted 42 fewer victims in the same period.

The efforts that Flanders has undertaken for traffic safety over the past few years, including more investment in unmanned cameras and improving dangerous sections of road, have yielded results. Flanders saw the number of deaths in traffic fall by 37 percent since 2000. Brussels did even better. The number of traffic deaths among 100,000 residents in Wallonia however has almost doubled.

The Flemish government also invested in additional enforcement. In March 2007 Flanders had 572 unmanned camera sites along regional roads, while Wallonia only had 40. The yields from traffic fines were put into the fund set up for this purpose. Flanders receives 58 percent of the proceeds, Wallonia 38 percent. A study by the Association of Flemish Cities and Municipalities (VVSG) found in 2003 that 83 percent of the fines are collected in Flanders.

[Copyright Expatica News 2007]

Subject: Belgian news