The default speed limit for Dutch motorways (autosnelwegen) is 120 km/h (75 mph), although some have a posted speed limit of 100 km/h (62 mph). Regional roads (provinciale wegen) have a limit of 80 km/h (50 mph), while the default limit is 100 km/h (62 mph) on expressways (autowegen). However, on many regional roads the posted speed limit is 60 km/h (37 mph), which is among the lowest speed limits of the world (outside built-up areas). The default limit in built-up areas is 50 km/h (31 mph), but many residential areas have a posted limit of 30 km/h (19 mph). In some cities, some major arterial roads have a posted 70 km/h (44 mph) limit.
Since May 2002, the Netherlands has been experimenting with 80 km/h (50 mph) zones on motorways crossing suburban areas, also equipping them with an average speed check system, much like the British SPECS system. The first zone to be implemented was on the A13, which connects Rotterdam to the Hague, at the Rotterdam suburb of Overschie. This was generally accepted as a success,[1] so in 2005, the experiment was expanded, with four new zones in Rotterdam (A20), the Hague (A12), Utrecht (A12) and Amsterdam (A10-west). The new zones have had mixed results, causing great controversy and calls for the removal of them.
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