Venlo introduces smart traffic lights to cut delays and boost emergency response
Venlo is rolling out intelligent traffic lights to reduce congestion, lower emissions, and speed up emergency services. Residents may notice smoother traffic flow, but pedestrians and cyclists should still press buttons to ensure the system detects them.
| Key Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Locations | Tegelseweg, Eindhovenseweg, Krefeldseweg, Burgemeester van Rijnsingel, Venrayseweg, Roermondsepoort |
| Benefits | Improved traffic flow, lower CO₂ emissions, faster emergency response |
| Technology | Smart traffic lights adjust signals based on real-time traffic data |
| Learning Period | Several months for optimal performance |
| Pedestrian/Cyclist Tip | Always press the button to ensure detection |
| Bus Priority Indicator | "BUS" appears on cyclist displays when a bus is approaching |
The Municipality of Venlo is responsible for local traffic management, including the implementation of smart traffic systems to enhance road safety and efficiency. These systems align with broader Dutch goals to reduce emissions and improve urban mobility.
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Read the full translated article below
Smart traffic lights in Venlo: how they work and what we notice about them
In Venlo, we are increasingly using intelligent traffic control systems (iVRI’s). These are smart traffic lights that help make traffic safer, faster and cleaner.
This benefits not only motorists, but also cyclists, pedestrians and, above all, emergency services.
Venlo currently has smart traffic lights installed on six busy roads with many intersections:
- Tegelseweg (from the intersection with Professor Gelissensingel to the intersection with Ariënsstraat)
- Eindhovenseweg (from the Blerick side of the bridge to the intersection with Groot Bollerweg)
- Krefeldseweg (from the intersection with Belletablestraat to the intersection with Jean Laudystraat)
- Crossing on Burgemeester van Rijnsingel (Stalbergweg – Julianapark)
- Venrayseweg (from the roundabout at Floralaan to the A73 on-ramp)
- Roermondsepoort
How do smart traffic lights work?
A smart traffic light “monitors” the approaching traffic and records for itself how busy or quiet a particular location is. It measures the number of vehicles, cyclists or pedestrians and adjusts the green and red phases accordingly. This means traffic no longer has to stop unnecessarily as often. The result:
- better traffic flow
- lower CO₂ emissions, as vehicles need to brake and accelerate less frequently
Emergency services get green lights faster
The smart traffic lights provide additional support for emergency services. For example, when an ambulance departs from VieCuri, the system can recognise it. The traffic lights along the route automatically switch to green, allowing the ambulance to pass through more quickly and safely. This can ultimately save lives.
Smart, but not yet perfect
A smart traffic light needs to learn from all traffic flows. In busy areas with many pedestrian crossings, such as the Roermondsepoort, the system may take longer to function optimally. The more data the traffic lights collect, the smarter they become and the better they are at managing traffic. This “learning” process can sometimes take several months. That is also why you may initially have to wait longer for a green light.
Important tip for pedestrians and cyclists
In some cases, the traffic light will automatically switch to green due to “loops” in the ground, without you having to press the button. However, this is not the case everywhere. Therefore, always press the button at a pedestrian or cyclist crossing if you want to cross. Previously, if someone on the other side had already pressed the button, you did not need to do so yourself and everyone would get a green light at the same time. With a smart traffic light, this works differently. The system learns from the signal when a button is pressed. If you do not press the button, the traffic light cannot properly detect your presence, and the system learns more slowly as a result.
What about the word “BUS”?
You may have noticed it already. Sometimes the word “BUS” suddenly appears on a display at a cyclist crossing while the countdown is running. This means a bus is approaching and the countdown temporarily stops. Once the bus has passed, the countdown resumes. Work is currently underway to improve this system so that it will function properly soon.