The prize is a boost in a period when the number of incidents involving road stewards is increasing sharply. The road stewards of Rijkswaterstaat have received the Golden RAI Wheel 2021 from RAI Association chairman Steven van Eijck. The Golden RAI Wheel is awarded every year to a person or organization that is committed to mobility in the Netherlands. The Committee of Recommendation commends the civil service for its efforts to monitor traffic flow and road safety. A challenging and often harmless task, according to current figures from Rijkswaterstaat about ignoring red crosses and the record number of collisions with arrow and bumper cars.
The traffic flow on the main road network is essential for the Dutch mobility system to work optimally. Disruptions on the road quickly lead to problems on the main road network, but also on the underlying road network. The road stewards are the directors of the main road network and ensure that in the event of breakdowns, accidents, snow and sleet or other incidents, traffic can continue to move as much as possible.
“The more than 300 road inspectors of Rijkswaterstaat are central to solving disruptions on the main road network. They are on the road for us day and night in all weathers to ensure that we arrive at our destination undisturbed and safely. Without a doubt, that they deserve the Golden RAI Wheel 2021.”
Working together for flow
The road steward does not work alone and cannot do it alone. Safety and traffic flow are the interaction between Rijkswaterstaat, the police, ambulance, fire brigade, salvage companies, the municipality and the province. After an incident, the road steward is often the first on the scene. He will then take measures to allow traffic to flow again. If the situation calls for it, he arranges for the traffic control center to temporarily close a lane, so that emergency personnel can do their work safely. A red cross will then appear above the correct lane.
Record number of collisions with arrow and bumper cars
Unfortunately, the profession of road inspector is not without danger. Until 1 November, for example, a record number of collision and arrow vehicles have already been hit. A total of 30 units compared to 22 units throughout 2020 and 21 incidents in 2019. The dark months of November and December have yet to come. Until October 1, 4.519 fines have also been handed out for ignoring a red cross. In all of 2020, this number was 4.923.
Road stewards are increasingly exposed to high safety risks due to irresponsible and inattentive road users. “The bumper and arrow cars are there to protect the road stewards. At the risk of their own lives, inspectors are increasingly confronted with road users who don't care about everyone or who do not pay attention at all. It is too crazy for words, but there is no place on the road for those people," says Van Eijck. It is not for nothing that about 100 road stewards have now been sworn in as an extraordinary investigating officer (BOA) and can therefore immediately fine road users for certain violations.
About the Golden RAI Wheel
The Golden RAI Wheel was established in 2003 to honor and encourage individuals or institutions that distinguish themselves at national or international level in the field of traffic and transport or means of transport in the broadest sense. Previous celebrities and institutions that received the prize included spaceman Wubbo Ockels, Pieter van Vollenhoven, the ANWB, the Advanced Automotive Design department of TU Delft, Fastned, SWOV and KiM. The five-member committee of recommendation for Het Gouden RAI Wiel consists of chairmen of various interest groups. In addition to RAI Association chairman Steven van Eijck, the committee also includes Ingrid Thijssen (chairman VNO-NCW), Maxime Verhagen (chairman Bouwend Nederland), Marga de Jager (CEO ANWB) and Han ten Broeke (Bond chairman BOVAG). the Royal RAI Association.
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