{"id":5655,"date":"2018-06-28T08:00:16","date_gmt":"2018-06-28T08:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/dutch\/?p=5655"},"modified":"2018-06-27T13:36:58","modified_gmt":"2018-06-27T13:36:58","slug":"dutch-traffic-why-the-stop-sign-is-so-rare-in-the-netherlands","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/dutch\/dutch-traffic-why-the-stop-sign-is-so-rare-in-the-netherlands\/","title":{"rendered":"Dutch Traffic: Why the stop sign is so rare in the Netherlands"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome to a new series here at the Dutch blog, discussing\u00a0verkeerssituaties\u00a0<\/em>(traffic situations) and verkeersborden\u00a0<\/em>(traffic signs) in the Netherlands. Even though the\u00a0verkeersregels\u00a0<\/em>(traffic rules) are not\u00a0that<\/span> different in the Netherlands, there are a few key differences. Today, we discuss why there are barely any stopborden\u00a0<\/em>(stop signs) in the Netherlands.<\/p>\n

Stop!<\/em><\/h2>\n
\"\"<\/a>

A new stopbord<\/em> in Maastricht. The indication verkeerssituatie gewijzigd<\/em> (traffic situation changed) warns road users that they should pay extra attention now that the sign is there (Image by author).<\/p><\/div>\n

As we know, a\u00a0stopbord\u00a0<\/em>means that the approaching\u00a0bestuurder\u00a0<\/em>(driver) must come to a complete stop and\u00a0voorrang geven\u00a0<\/em>(yield way) to any passing weggebruikers\u00a0<\/em>(road users) before proceeding.<\/p>\n

This means that it can only be used if there are\u00a0voorrangswegen\u00a0<\/em>(priority roads). These were only introduced in 1936 in the Netherlands. During the German occupation, the first stop sign was introduced, which compelled drivers to come to a complete stop.<\/p>\n

However, for some reason, there are not many of these signs in the Netherlands. Why not? Are there no dangerous kruisingen\u00a0<\/em>(crossings) in the Netherlands? Do people drive a lot more responsibly?<\/p>\n

No.<\/p>\n

There is an alternative.<\/p>\n

Haaientanden<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Haaientanden<\/em> in the Helmstraat, Maastricht. The car is giving way to the fietsers<\/em> (bicyclists) (Image by author)<\/p><\/div>\n

Instead of stopborden<\/em>, the Dutch rely heavily on\u00a0haaientanden\u00a0<\/em>(shark’s teeth). These are white triangles placed on the\u00a0weg\u00a0<\/em>(road) where you would normally expect a\u00a0stopstreep <\/em>(stop line). Officially, the\u00a0Nederlands Reglement Verkeersregels en Verkeerstekens\u00a0<\/em>(RVV)\u00a0<\/em>(Dutch Regulation traffic rules and traffic signs (RVV)) of 1990 calls these\u00a0haaientanden\u00a0<\/em>differently:\u00a0voorrangsdriehoeken\u00a0<\/em>(yield triangles). Their\u00a0betekenis\u00a0<\/em>(meaning):<\/p>\n

Haaietanden hebben de volgende betekenis: de\u00a0bestuurders<\/a>\u00a0moeten\u00a0voorrang<\/a>\u00a0verlenen aan bestuurders op de kruisende weg.<\/i><\/p>\n

(Shark’s teeth have the following meaning: the drivers must yield way to the drivers on the crossing street.)<\/p>\n

Notice how in 1990,\u00a0haaietanden\u00a0<\/em>was written without the n <\/em>between\u00a0haaie\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0tanden.\u00a0<\/em>This is related to a spelling change in 1995, where this\u00a0tussen-n\u00a0<\/em>(between-n) was added. More on that in an upcoming post!<\/p>\n

The name\u00a0haaientanden\u00a0<\/em>comes from the similarity of the triangles to shark’s teeth.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Not such clear give way lines in the UK (Image by Phil Champion at Commons.wikimedia.org under license CC BY SA 2.0)<\/p><\/div>\n

I personally think that haaientanden\u00a0<\/em>are very well designed. In contrast to\u00a0Give Way lines, as in the UK pictured above,\u00a0haaientanden\u00a0<\/em>point at you. They are like spears that could pierce your tires – that “threat” inclines you to slow down and stop. Very effective!<\/p>\n

However, this is not always safe enough. The\u00a0haaientanden\u00a0<\/em>only require\u00a0bestuurders\u00a0<\/em>to give way, not to come to a complete stop. That is still safer, even if it is slower. This is the reason why the\u00a0stopbord\u00a0<\/em>with a\u00a0stopstreep\u00a0<\/em>were installed in Maastricht, the one in the first picture. However, the use of the\u00a0stopbord\u00a0<\/em>is not very widespread, perhaps because traffic flow has a higher priority – which could explain the large amount of\u00a0rotondes\u00a0<\/em>(roundabouts) in the country – but more on that another time!<\/p>\n

Is the\u00a0stopbord\u00a0<\/em>used a lot in your country? Do you have an alternative solution, and what do you think about it? Let me know in the comments below!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

Welcome to a new series here at the Dutch blog, discussing\u00a0verkeerssituaties\u00a0(traffic situations) and verkeersborden\u00a0(traffic signs) in the Netherlands. Even though the\u00a0verkeersregels\u00a0(traffic rules) are not\u00a0that different in the Netherlands, there are a few key differences. Today, we discuss why there are barely any stopborden\u00a0(stop signs) in the Netherlands. Stop! As we know, a\u00a0stopbord\u00a0means that the approaching\u00a0bestuurder\u00a0(driver)…<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":110,"featured_media":5659,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[60713,27711],"tags":[2585,13],"class_list":["post-5655","post","type-post","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-culture-2","category-dutch-vocabulary-2","tag-traffic","tag-vocabulary"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t