Three cars collided rear-end while they were among the traffic waiting for the Stevinsluis towards Friesland. No one was injured. One of those involved was overcome by the heat and tension, which required an ambulance. In the end, everything turned out fine, but the ambulance had difficulty reaching the accident site.

Emergency lane occupied

A large number of motorists chose to use the emergency lane instead of patiently waiting for the situation to be resolved. This prevented the recovery company, Rijkswaterstaat, and an ambulance from driving through the emergency lane to the accident, as it was completely full.
Unfortunately, this was not the first time at this location, leading the police to issue 20 fines for driving on the emergency lane.
The fine is € 460,-*. This is substantial, as the danger posed by such an action is significant. An emergency lane may only be used in emergencies, by emergency services, or when instructed.

Forbidden and dangerous

Arend Kamp, neighborhood officer of Wieringen and the North Holland section of the Afsluitdijk, says the following: 

“It is understandable that waiting in traffic can be frustrating, especially with high temperatures. However, it is crucial that the emergency lane remains clear so that emergency services can quickly reach the scene in case of an accident.

Unfortunately, we are seeing more and more drivers using the emergency lane when the locks are open and traffic comes to a standstill. Some take the exit via the emergency lane and then use the entrance again to skip part of the traffic jam. This is not only forbidden and dangerous but also causes a lot of annoyance among other road users who are waiting patiently.

We therefore make an urgent appeal: keep the emergency lane clear, respect the rules, and think of each others safety.”

* Offense code R465A: driving on the emergency lane or emergency area of a motorway without an emergency