No red cross where it should be
Matrix signs are of great importance for traffic safety and the safety of road inspectors and emergency services. However, they are often broken and certainly not always repaired immediately.
The maintenance of matrix signs leaves much to be desired, concludes Omroep Gelderland after investigation. Last year there were 1,160 malfunctions of matrix signs that lasted longer than 30 days. In addition, no red cross could appear on the sign, while that can sometimes prove vital if, for example, someone is stranded on that lane.
As many as 16 percent of the malfunctions lasted at least 30 days, and in some cases matrix signs are even malfunctioning for years. According to Rijkswaterstaat, a lack of personnel and materials is the problem. Repair is also sometimes postponed until major road maintenance is carried out, in order to prevent road closures.
Omroep Gelderland has reports from various road inspectors about situations in which their work became dangerous due to a non-functioning matrix sign. “This not only endangers the person involved, but also our own chain partners and our own people! I really think this is not done,” says a road inspector.