Raising awareness Staying mobile together with respect and good reflexes

No big news, traffic jams on the road network are very common in Luxembourg. This is not astonishing, knowing that with an occupancy rate of 1.2 people per vehicle, 250,000 empty seats enter every morning Luxembourg City, the main center of activity of the Grand Duchy.

The National Mobility Plan - NMP 2035 revealed that, despite popular belief, the majority (80%) of domestic traffic in the Grand Duchy is due to the movement of citizens and lorries, and not to the flow of cross-border commuters (which only counts for 20% of traffic in the Grand Duchy).

The exceptional situation of the COVID-19 crisis has shown us that means such as teleworking, for example, can reduce congestion on the road network considerably.

In order not to fall back into old habits and the related problems of traffic jams, the Ministry of Mobility and Public Works is rallying to the government's recommendations, for example with the following advices:

> as long as this can be achieved within the operational needs of an entity:

• home office work
  
• changing peak hours

> in order to limit individual motorized use, prefer:

• carpooling
• car sharing
• public transport
• active mobility
  

> in addition to the health benefits, active mobility is desirable for:

• the first mile / the last mile
• the last mile logistics

Concerning infrastructure for cyclists, the Ministry of Mobility and Public Works, together with the municipalities and urban planning advisors, has set up a website dedicated to:

• recommendations for cycling facilities in Luxembourg

The shift in timetables mentioned above is certainly a matter for reflection on the part of:

• educational institutions

When traffic slows down or even in traffic jams, it is important that all road users adopt a respectful and responsible attitude in order to allow emergency vehicles (ambulances, fire brigade, police) to progress quickly to the scene of the intervention in all circumstances!

In this context, the Ministry of Mobility and Public Works, together with the Grand Ducal Police and the Road Safety Authority, also regularly launches prevention and awareness campaigns.

Overall, the road belongs to everybody and drivers are invited to show courtesy, tolerance, caution and respect for the Highway Code (Code de la Route).

Here are some basic reminders of the above rules and recommendations:

> leave an emergency lane

• campaign "emergency lane and automatic emergency call system - eCall"

> do not block junctions

• driving through an orange or red light does not make you go faster!
• though blocking a junction can lead to conflicts for emergency vehicles (ambulances, fire brigade, police): they would not be able to pass in case of emergency... think about it!
  

> respect my space

• campaign "respect my space"
• respect the safety distances from vehicles in front!
• respect the lateral safety distances (e.g. 1.5m distance when overtaking a cyclist)
  

> respect speed limits

• mixed zones often with pedestrians / children playing... riding at 40 km/h or even 50 km/h in these zones is not only illegal but does not make you go any faster... however your speeding can quickly cause accidents and be fatal for pedestrians!
• on motorways in case of rain: drive at maximum 110 km/h, the risk of aquaplaning can be fatal in case of an accident!
• radar controls