Rainfall caused traffic jams

7 May 2007

BRUSSELS- The first rainfall in weeks caused kilometres of traffic jams this morning. The federal police traffic dispatch office says that more than 250 kilometres of congestion blocked the Flemish roadways at one point.

The traffic jams were mainly on the Brussels-bound motorways and the ring-road around the capital, though Antwerp was also surrounded by traffic jams. “The long traffic jams were mainly due to the rain; there were a few incidents but not an unusually high number,” says Mario De Spiegeleer of the federal police.

Motorists association VAB had warned on Sunday that the roads could be dangerous with rainfall after such a long dry period. The first drops can create a slippery layer of oil and dirt on the road surface.

Subject: Belgian news