Cars will help road managers by continuously informing them about how the road is doing. This will give road authorities a more frequent and complete picture of the state of maintenance and of unsafe situations on the road. Together with Mercedes-Benz, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management will ensure that anonymous information from vehicles will be shared with all Dutch road authorities over the next two years.
The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management and Mercedes-Benz will announce these plans on March 29, 2022, at the Intertraffic Amsterdam trade fair.
Minister Harbers (Infrastructure and Water Management): "At the moment we collect information about our roads through, for example, fixed sensors or road inspectors driving around. Because it is now impossible to measure continuously, our road image is not up to date. By using thousands of Mercedes-Benz cars, road authorities will know faster what the quality of their road is. That is why I think this cooperation is a valuable addition. For the next two years, all Dutch road authorities will be able to use the information, which we are funding from the central government."
Signal of slipperiness or pothole in road
The sensors that now help drivers drive comfortably and safely can also monitor the quality of a road. Is it slippery, are road signs and markings still clearly visible, is the road surface damaged, or do cars often drive over a continuous line somewhere (for example, because the curve there is too sharp)?
Road managers can use this information to plan road maintenance. For example, they are better able to efficiently direct contractors and gritting crews. Ultimately, the quick overview of the road situation will help improve road safety.
Road manager sees and organizes
If road managers (Rijkswaterstaat, provinces or municipalities) join the 'Road Monitor' initiative, they can see anonymized data about their roads on a dashboard. This then indicates, for example: "Ten vehicles could not properly detect the lines here." The dashboard combines vehicle information with public data, such as on weather and traffic accidents.
With Road Monitor, road managers get a quicker picture of damage or wear and tear, so it can be repaired more efficiently. The aim is also to prevent or even postpone major maintenance because minor damage can be repaired sooner. This not only makes the road safer for road users, it also prevents unexpected inconvenience.
Investment by IenW
It has been agreed with Mercedes-Benz to enter into this joint learning process for two years. During that period, the Ministry, Mercedes-Benz and the affiliated road authorities will assess the added value of Road Monitor. This involves questions such as: Is the information sufficiently detailed and reliable? How can this information best be shared with road authorities? What does it mean for work processes? Does it deliver enough?
For two years, the dashboard is funded by the Ministry of IenW. All road authorities can therefore use the information free of charge during this period. They can register via www.roadmonitor.nl. At the end of 2023 the balance will be taken and the added value will be evaluated.
