Belgium has seen a dramatic surge in speeding tickets following a policy shift that ended a previous period of tolerance for minor infractions. This increase has sparked a debate over whether current speed limits are realistic or if they have become mere tools for sanctioning drivers.
In 2021, former Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne enacted the end of this tolerance, effective as of 2022. The impact was immediate and significant, particularly for drivers exceeding the limit by less than 10 km/h.
Data reveals that tickets for these minor excesses rose from 2.6 million in 2021 to 5.6 million in 2024. This trend continued into 2025, with 3.2 million tickets issued in the first half of the year alone.
The Conflict Between Sanction and Responsibility
The organization Touring, which defends motorists, argues that while major speeding violations remain stable, the explosion of tiny infractions suggests a problem with the legitimacy of the limits themselves.
Lorenzo Stefani, a spokesperson for Touring, emphasizes that safety should be the priority, but warns that a policy based solely on increasing limits, radars, and automatic sanctions may be counterproductive.
“When the motorist feels trapped, he does not feel responsible, but sanctioned,” Stefani noted, arguing that rules lose their educational power when they appear incoherent with the reality of the road.
When Low Limits May Increase Danger
Touring members acknowledge the necessity of limits in residential areas, near schools, or in construction zones. However, they contest the “mechanical generalization” of limits that seem disconnected from the environment.
Examples cited include 30 km/h limits on wide axes, 70 km/h on clear roads, and 50 km/h on highways several kilometers before a visible construction site.
Stefani suggests that strictly adhering to some low limits can actually create hazardous conditions. He cited experiences on the Brussels ring at 50 km/h and the E40 toward Liège at 70 km/h, where slower vehicles may be honked at by buses and trucks.
According to Touring, these speed differentials can generate stress and lead to repeated overtaking maneuvers, potentially creating the opposite effect of what is intended for road safety.
Proposed Reforms and the Swedish Model
To address these issues, Touring is calling for a systematic audit of speed limits across the three regions. This would include checking limits that fall below the standard Highway Code, such as 90 km/h on highways or 70 km/h on national roads.
The organization also advocates for an audit of “super-radars” to determine if the high volume of infractions is due to driver negligence or poorly adapted limits.
As a potential alternative, Touring suggests adopting the Swedish system. In this model, speed limits are established based on the average speed of 85% of motorists in specific areas.
If adopted, such a shift could potentially align legal limits with the natural flow of traffic, which Touring believes would be more spontaneously respected by the majority of drivers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has there been a sharp increase in speeding tickets in Belgium?
The increase followed the decision by former Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne to end a period of tolerance for minor speeding infractions starting in 2022.
What is Touring’s main criticism of current speed limits?
Touring argues that many limits are “disconnected” from the reality of the terrain—such as incredibly low limits on wide roads or highways—which makes drivers feel trapped rather than responsible.
What specific solution does Touring propose to make limits more credible?
They propose systematic audits of speed limits and radars, and they suggest a system similar to Sweden’s, where limits are based on the average speed of 85% of motorists.
Do you believe speed limits should be based on the average behavior of drivers or strictly defined safety standards?
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