In 2020, road inspectors from Rijkswaterstaat (RWS) issued significantly more official reports to drivers for ignoring red crosses. The number of fines increased by 55 percent to 4,920, writes the Telegraph Wednesday.
By ignoring the red crosses, 22 arrow cars and crash absorbers were hit last year, means that are used to protect road works and accidents.
Outgoing Minister Cora van Nieuwenhuizen (Infrastructure and Water Management) calls the ignoring of red crosses in the newspaper “dangerous and unacceptable”. “It is purely criminal, because you endanger the lives of others. (…) In addition, eleven service cars of road inspectors were also hit on the road to protect an incident. Fortunately, they all got off alive. but most of the cars are a total loss. “
The minister says in the Telegraph that there will be even stricter controls, possibly with the help of cameras. “Few symbols are easier to understand than a red cross.”
Extraordinary investigating officer
Since 2015, Rijkswaterstaat has employed road inspectors who, as extraordinary investigating officer (BOA), have extra powers and may issue fines. In 2019, they issued 3,159 fines for ignoring red crosses, compared to 1,653 in 2018.
The increase in the number of fines for ignoring red crosses may have to do with the increased number of boas: now almost a hundred. The Rijkswaterstaat boas also check for driving on the hard shoulder, standing still on the hard shoulder and for trucks with an excessive load.
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