Search form

menu menu
  • Daily & Weekly newsletters
  • Buy & download The Bulletin
  • Comment on our articles

Record number of vehicles on Belgian roads

12:01 28/08/2014

On August 1, 2014, a total of 7,076,238 vehicles were registered in Belgium, a record high, writes De Standaard based on figures from the FPS Economy. In the last ten years, the number of vehicles registered in Belgium went up by more than 1 million, an increase of 16%.

The registered vehicles are mostly cars: 5.56 million in total, or 14% more than a decade ago. The population of Belgium has grown in that period, but less rapidly than the number of cars.

The number of passengers per car is steadily decreasing, from 3.55 persons per car in 1977 to 2.13 persons in 2004 and 2.01 persons per car currently.

There are about 752,000 trucks registered in Belgium, nearly 30% more than ten years ago.

Written by Robyn Boyle

Comments

Anonymous

Since cyclists also use the roads, perhaps they should also be registered, pay road tax and get a fine if they do not wear a helmet.

Aug 28, 2014 18:36
ulrixco

To Anonymous - It seems you do not have all the information required to understand the real situation. Cyclists generate huge savings thanks to their mode of transport - check the recent study about them on this link http://www.gracq.be/files/uploads/NEWS-2014-07/2014RBCEconomieVelo.pdf Investments of €22/year/inhabitant would generate yearly cost savings of €300-550 million. You can calculate the net benefit to society. Conversely, traffic generates costs to society amounting to just under 10% of the GNP each year (GDP is 71 billion for Brussels, so you can make the sums...). In the Netherlands, no one wears helmets, and deaths and injuries are the lowest in Europe (indeed, the world). A general speed limit of 30km/h should be the rule to encourage more cycling, since facilities are not up to scratch and will not be for some time. Average travel time would not increase significantly for motorists, since more cyclists would ease congestion considerably.

Aug 28, 2014 21:51