Two out of three drivers are speeding in 30 km/h zones, according to a study by road safety institute Vias published on Friday.
Ahead of the 25th speed enforcement marathon organised by police on Saturday, Vias monitored the behaviour of about two million vehicles. The findings show that average speeds in 30 km/h zones, which are intended to better protect vulnerable road users, remain far too high.
The average speed in these zones was 41 km/h. It was lower in Flanders, at 37 km/h, but reached 45 km/h in Wallonia.
The scale of the problem is underlined by the infringement rate, calculated beyond the technical tolerance margin. In 30 km/h zones, nearly two-thirds of drivers, or 65%, would have been fined if a speed camera had been present.
Almost 6% of drivers were travelling more than 30 km/h above the limit. One record speed of 119 km/h was even recorded.
On motorways and on roads limited to 70 or 90 km/h, average speeds were much closer to the legal maximum. Vias said the situation on motorways has improved markedly since its previous behavioural survey in 2021.
At that time, 44% of drivers were travelling above 120 km/h on motorways. By 2026, that figure had fallen to 23%, or roughly one in four drivers, according to the institute.
Vias said the spread of average-speed cameras in recent years, in both Wallonia and Flanders, partly explains the improvement on the motorway network. The growing number of electric cars may also be contributing, as their drivers tend to adopt a smoother driving style to preserve range.
To cut speeds in 30 km/h and 50 km/h zones as well, Vias recommends adapting road infrastructure and/or increasing visible enforcement.
