Traffic jams cost Dutch companies up to €800m last year, say transport firms

Traffic jams on Dutch motorways cost companies between €613m and €797m last year, according to a report by the TNO scientific institute for two transport lobby groups.

The jams lead to time wasting and extra fuel usage and cause logistics problems, requiring the use of additional vehicles and route planning, the TNO report says.

Transport lobby groups TLN and EVO say the A15 motorway between the Benelux tunnel and Vaanplein was the most expensive traffic hot spot last year, followed by the A27 between Gorinchem and Hooipolder, and the A58 between Galder and Batadorp.

The organisations say that considerable government investment in the roads has led to a reduction in the seriousness of traffic jams and reduced the cost to companies.

However, there are signs jams became more serious in 2014 and continual effort is needed to reduce the number of traffic black spots, TLN and EVO say.