NETHERLANDS: COUNCIL OFFICIALS IN THE DUTCH TOWN RELEASE ITS LATEST TRAFFIC CONTROL SCHEME IN THE SHAPE OF A FLOCK OF SHEEP

Record ID: 639736

  • Title: NETHERLANDS: COUNCIL OFFICIALS IN THE DUTCH TOWN RELEASE ITS LATEST TRAFFIC CONTROL SCHEME IN THE SHAPE OF A FLOCK OF SHEEP
  • Date: 11th November 1996
  • Summary: CULEMBORG, NETHERLANDS (NOVEMBER 11, 1996) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 1. SV SPEED LIMIT SIGNS AT ENTRY TO CULEMBORG/ SPEED LIMIT MARKINGS ON ROAD/ CARS DRIVING BY (2 SHOTS) 0.17 2. SLV/CU SPEED BUMPS IN ROAD/ SIGN FOR SPEED BUMPS/ CART DRIVING OVER SPEED BUMP PAST YOUNG CHILDREN (3 SHOTS) 0.35 3. SV/CU ALDERWOMAN MINKE WIJKMANS RELEASING FIRST TRAFFIC CONTROL SHEEP (3 SHOTS) 1.07 4. LV SHEEP RUNNING AROUND IN THEIR NEW HABITAT 1.19 5. CU DUCK ON POND 1.24 6. LV OF SHEEP WITH 1.36 7. CU SHEEP EATING GRASS 1.40 8. MCU TOWN COUNCIL WORKER HENK-JAN KLIEVIT SPEAKING AS NOTED ABOUT IDEA COMING FROM INDIA (ENGLISH) 1.52 9. SLV SHEEP CROSSING ROAD STOPPING CAR 2.18 10.MCU LOCAL YOUTH SPEAKING AS NOTED ABOUT MONEY BEING BETTER SPENT ON SCHOOLS (ENGLISH) 2.23 11.LV CHILDREN LOOKING AT SHEEP 2.29 12.SLV YOUNG BOY RIDING TRICYCLE OVER CATTLE GRID 2.39 13.CU/LV SHEEP (2 SHOTS) 2.53 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
  • Embargoed: 26th November 1996 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: CULEMBORG, NETHERLANDS
  • City:
  • Country: Netherlands
  • Reuters ID: LVAYLN99BP9ZC0DXKY4GHTFMYK2
  • Story Text: INTRO: Council officials in the Dutch town of Culemborg have devised an unusual method for reducing the speed of motorists in the town.

    ------------------------------------------------------------------ The Dutch town of Culemborg, near Utrecht, released its latest traffic control scheme on Monday (November 11) in the shape of a small flock of sheep.

    The seven sheep will patrol a quiet suburban stretch of road, hopefully deterring drivers from speeding through the neighbourhood.

    If the pilot scheme is succesful here, the town council will expand it to other, busier parts of the town.

    Traffic speeding through town on the way to nearby Utrecht was a headache for the council that speed limit signs, speed bumps and roundabouts were not resolving.

    Henk-Jan Klievit, a member of the town council, came up with this innovative solution after a trip to India.

    "I saw all the cows on the road there, getting along well with the people and the cars and I thought 'Why not in Holland'," he said.

    Klievit says that, in addition to cutting drivers' speeds, the sheep will keep the grass along roadside verges neat and tidy free of charge.

    The project cost nearly 30,000 Dutch guilders (about 20,000 U.S. dollars). Cattle-grids to keep the sheep within a limited area are the biggest single cost for the project.

    Naturally, the price tag has upset some people in the town.

    "Its a waste of money...I mean my school has bigger problems," said one local resident.

    On the whole the people of Culemborg, not known for blindly following the flock, have taken to the idea.


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