The city council says that at 30 km/h, the chance of survival of a pedestrian in a collision with a car is 95%, compared to 85% at 50 km/h. Drivers also have more time to react to unexpected situations and the braking distance is shorter.
The council will use signs and road markings to make the new speed limit clear to drivers. It will also make adjustments to the roads, such as removing unnecessary lines and installing central lanes that can be driven over, to encourage slower driving.
The council says that enforcement will not be the main focus, but that it will use speed cameras to catch drivers who break the limit. It also encourages drivers to help each other follow the new speed limit by driving slowly themselves.
To see an interactive map of the new speed limits, click on the image.
The introduction of the 30 km/h speed limit is part of a wider effort by the city council to make Amsterdam a more livable and sustainable city.
Photo credits @ GilPe, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons