Road policy
We manage about 350 kilometers of roads. We do this on the basis of the Road Management Memorandum, which was adopted in 2019. The memorandum describes what we want to achieve with the management and maintenance of the roads. Central to this is keeping the roads safe for traffic.
Road management memorandum
Our road policy is based on two laws:
- the Wegenwet, which regulates the ownership, management and maintenance of roads in the Netherlands;
- the Road Traffic Act, which addresses the use of roads.
The policy is founded on three principles:
- HHNK designs its roads to invite safe use;
- together with all stakeholders; and
- we account transparently for our choices.
HHNK designs its roads to invite safe use
Traffic safety is the most important principle. The safety of all traffic participants on our roads is paramount, with extra attention to the cyclist as the weakest traffic participant. By traffic safety we mean preventing the chance of a traffic accident, and if an accident does occur, minimizing the consequences as much as possible. As road authorities, we cannot fully guarantee traffic safety; much depends on the behavior of the road user himself. However, we can promote the desired traffic behavior through the road design - paving and verges. By using road safety as the most important criterion when designing (and managing activities and works), we contribute to the road user's road safety. When designing the roads we follow the lines of the national vision Sustainable Safety and the guidelines of the CROW.
Together with all stakeholders
Our roads are part of a larger network of roads. Road users travel from A to B via roads owned by different road managers. Coordination at network level about road functions and mobility requires good cooperation with the other road managers. Traffic safety is also the most important starting point here. Where traffic safety is at stake, action is taken as soon as possible. We do this in consultation with the (immediate) surroundings and from the perspective of the entire road network (police, province and municipalities).
We transparently account for our choices
We take measures to promote road safety. It is important that we record the choices we make for the roads under our responsibility in such a way that the information is both accessible and interpretable. This not only means that we are transparent about the financing of our work, but also about the substantive considerations underlying our management choices. The management and maintenance of our roads is cost-effective and risk-based. In all decisions we make about roads and traffic, we consider how that decision relates to the transfer of the roads. We also take into account developments in climate, technology and society, and translate this into road management.
Road policy funding
Road management and maintenance cost money. We get a contribution from the state for this. It is also sometimes possible to apply for a subsidy from the province. With these contributions we can cover approximately 30% of the total costs. The remaining 70% is paid by the residents in the municipalities where we manage the roads in the form of road charges.