The majority of road users in the Netherlands think it is important to keep their distance in traffic. However, many people find it difficult to keep a meter and a half away in different traffic situations. This is evident from research by the TeamAlert Foundation, the Fietsersbond, ANWB and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.

The Netherlands has gradually 'closed' from June onwards, with the one and a half measure as an important guideline. This measure also applies in traffic: people must keep their distance in the car, train or bus, while cycling and on the sidewalk. This poses all kinds of challenges, for example on busy bicycle routes or at intersections where many road users are waiting at the same time. Road authorities take various measures to ensure that they are as far as XNUMX meters away. TeamAlert, the Fietsersbond, ANWB and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management investigated the support base for such measures among road users.

The quantitative study with nearly a thousand participants shows that the majority of the respondents think it is important to keep their distance in traffic. A majority also estimates that people are unlikely to fall ill if the distance of one and a half meters in traffic cannot be guaranteed. Nevertheless, the majority avoid busy places and traffic situations, such as busy cycle paths and walking routes.

A lot of support for most measures

The study proposed eight measures to participants to keep a distance of one and a half meters in traffic. Examples include busy cycle paths and one-way streets, or improving traffic flow for cyclists at traffic lights. In general, the majority of participants are positive about proposed measures. Two measures, a temporary shift in the function of roadway or cycle path and a reduction of the speed to 30 km / h, can count on less support.

The results of the study show that it is important for the support of the measures that people recognize the need to keep a distance of one and a half meters. In addition, the assessment of the behavior of other road users is strongly related to the support for the measures. In order to gain more support for the traffic measures, it is important to increase confidence in the follow-up of the measures by fellow road users. Support for the one-and-a-half-measure in general should also increase, so that the willingness to adhere to the adapted traffic measures also grows.

The Cyclists' Union is pleased with the research: 'It is nice that we know more about the support for corona measures and traffic. We are happy to share our opinion on sensible measures, especially on busier cycle routes and at traffic lights, places that are now even avoided by a group of cyclists. '

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