Application and effects of two dynamic motorway traffic management measures in the Netherlands

The explosive growth of traffic on the Dutch motorway network by about 20% during the past five years has caused an increase in the number of traffic jams during that period by 50%. In 1995 the Dutch government provided extra impulse on the traffic management programme. The programme contains a whole package of traffic management measures for the period until 2005. With regards to two of these measures, there was little known about the effects and the relation of these effects with design issues. It was therefore decided that experiments and pilot studies should be carried out in order to acquire more knowledge. The measures include: a dynamic peak lane by use of the emergency lane during peak hours; and an overtaking prohibition for lorries. The results are discussed.