Netherlands road pricing trial results released

NXP Semiconductors and IBM have announced the final results of a landmark road pricing trial conducted in the Netherlands, which demonstrated that with the help of technology, drivers can be motivated to change their driving behaviour, reducing traffic congestion and contributing to a greener environment.
February 2, 2012 Read time: 3 mins

566 NXP Semiconductors and 62 IBM have announced the final results of a landmark road pricing trial conducted in the Netherlands, which demonstrated that with the help of technology, drivers can be motivated to change their driving behaviour, reducing traffic congestion and contributing to a greener environment.

The six-month road pricing trial, conducted in the city of Eindhoven, was designed to provide the Dutch government with insights to address the challenge of traffic congestion in the Netherlands. The test was overwhelmingly successful, with 70 per cent of drivers changing their behaviour to avoid rush-hour travel when presented with the right incentives, demonstrating that road pricing systems can have a positive effect on driving habits and help alleviate traffic.

“The test has vastly exceeded our expectations,” said Maurice Geraets, senior director, NXP Semiconductors. “Together, NXP and IBM have logged more than 200,000 test kilometres as part of the trial, and the complete system has proven to be highly reliable. The technology is ready to charge car owners fairly for the use of the car based on road type, time of day and the environmental characteristics of the car, and to give effective feedback to drivers to influence their behaviour – helping them save money and make more efficient, greener driving choices on a daily basis. Further, the Eindhoven trial has demonstrated that our technology is ready for implementation in any large-scale traffic management programme.”

According to Eric-Mark Huitema, mobility executive at IBM, “The results of our GPS based solution in Eindhoven show that nation wide implementation of road user charging is feasible. Already successful IBM implementations of congestion charging schemes in Stockholm, Brisbane, Singapore and London are now also achievable with GPS which makes country wide implementations possible for millions of cars. Smart traffic and transportation systems have tremendous potential to reduce traffic congestion, contribute to a cleaner environment with reduced carbon dioxide and small particles emissions," Huitema said.

Key findings of the trial included:

  • 70 per cent of drivers improved their driving behaviour by avoiding rush-hour traffic and using highways instead of local roads.
  • On average, these drivers in the trial saw an improvement of more than 16 per cent in average cost per kilometre.
  • A clear system of incentives is critical to changing driving behaviour.
  • Instant feedback provided via an On-Board Unit display on the price of the road chosen and total charges for the trip are essential to maximising the change in behaviour.

The Netherlands will be introducing a new road-use charge starting in 2012 for trucks and lorries, and 2013 for passenger cars. The new road pricing system – Paying differently for mobility (Anders Betalen voor Mobiliteit) – is expected to be up and running nationwide by 2016. Many EU countries are now in the process of exploring road pricing programmes as one of the measures to reduce congestion and CO2 emissions.

Charging, Tolling & RUC

Related Content

  • January 16, 2012
    Dutch survey shows drivers are in favour of road user charging
    'Keep it simple, stupid' is an oft-forgotten axiom but in terms of road user charging it is entirely appropriate. So says the ANWB's Ferry Smith. A couple of decades ago, it might have been largely true that the technology aspects of advanced road infrastructure were the main obstacles to deployment. However, 20 years or more of development have led to a situation where such 'obstacles' are often no more than a political fig-leaf. Area-wide Road User Charging (RUC) is a case in point; speak candidly to syst
    Read More
  • August 1, 2012
    Delivering accurate vehicle identification
    In the Netherlands, TNO, the independent research organisation, has been engaged in a project on behalf of the RDW, the Dutch vehicle registration and licensing authority, intended to look at the feasibility of using electronic means to make vehicle identification more accurate and less susceptible to fraud. Electronic Vehicle Identification (EVI) has been in existence in various forms for several years now but TNO was tasked with finding out whether OnBoard Unit (OBU)-based applications could be complement
    Read More
  • January 26, 2015
    Netherlands to begin large-scale testing of autonomous cars
    The Dutch government has given its approval to large-scale testing of autonomous cars on roads in the Netherlands, saying the technology could reduce congestion and smooth traffic flow. The cabinet has agreed to adjust road rules, which will enable the Dutch transport authority, RDW, to grant permission for testing. According to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment, the Netherlands has become a test-bed for autonomous vehicles, although until now tests have largely been carried out at priv
    Read More
  • August 10, 2016
    Mileage based charging offers secure future for funding
    HNTB’s Matthew Click sets out why a move to mileage-based pricing is inevitable. Infrastructure is the most neglected yet the most critical engine of our society, and our continued indifference could lead to a dystopian future. Our roads, bridges and highways have been largely passed by in the digital age—marginalised in an era when funding is limited and stewardship of physical assets has given way to our preoccupation with technological innovation and data—the stuff of the virtual realm.
    Read More

Highlighted Content