Introducing our columnist: Martin Kroon

In a few years time, 'The New Driving' has conquered the Dutch road: a system of tips and tricks – bluntly speaking – for economic and fuel efficient driving, or 'ecodriving'. Low revving, early shifting into a higher gear, foot off the gas pedal when approaching traffic lights – that sort of instructions. Easy to remember, and a serious environment improving factor if everyone were to follow them. Brought to the public by way of commercials starring Dutch look-alikes of the Dukes of Hazzard.

Behind it is traffic expert and new MindsinMotion.net columnist Mr Martin Kroon (1946). He cooperated with the Ministry of Transport, and the Dutch automobile, car manufacturers', and dealer associations, to successfully implement ecodriving in Dutch society.

Raison d'ętre
Improving the environment and road safety by changing driving behaviour is a recurring theme in Kroon's career, if not his raison d'ętre. “When it comes to traffic and environment,” says Martin, “I'm inspired, involved and motivated. I have a strong dislike for 'green fables' and for irrational driving behaviour. At the same time I'm sufficiently down-to-earth to rather take small successful steps than chase unrealistic visions.”

Finest hour
Kroon worked as traffic and environment expert for the Dutch environment ministry for twenty years, until 2006. One of his major achievements, “and the most exciting period in my career,” he says, was to establish a combined traffic-and-environment policy, both within the Netherlands and internationally: in the European Union, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and the European Conference of Ministers of Transport.

“It took heavy interdepartmental negotiations, back in 1989/1990,” Martin reminisces his finest hour. “Through intensive contact we got 'my' environment minister, Mr Ed Nijpels, and the transport minister Ms Neelie Smit-Kroes, on the same page: to instate an integrated traffic and environment policy.”

“Also,” Martin continues after having been asked about the best experiences in his career, “together with the justice department and the national police, I managed to install a fine speed limit policy that takes environmental effects into account. The environment ministry had a heavy say in this as well, which lead to extra climate funds to pay for law enforcement for instance, and to a quicker implementation of section control.”

Lawyer
In all of his work Martin was driven by the necessity to make traffic less polluting and more economic. To achieve this he focused on diminishing car traffic growth, reducing speed limits and promoting ecodriving.

Apart from the New Driving campaign, how did he go about this? He conducted research into the connection between fuel use, emissions, traffic dynamics and driving behaviour. Furthermore, Martin pressed for tax stimulation of on-board computers and cruise control. Being a lawyer, he spent many years working on the Chemical Substances Act and on abidance of environmental law with the Environment Inspectorate, where he started his career.

Inspire awareness
Nowadays Martin promotes New Driving and teaches ecodriving in the Netherlands and abroad. He never ceases to come up with measures regarding integrated traffic policies, rational driving behaviour and traffic flow management to improve air quality.

And he writes columns – sustainable mobility columns. Why does he write them? “To inspire awareness and to help steer the debate on mobility and environment in the right direction,” he says...

“And sometimes to unleash frustration when I encounter stupid situations.”

Read the first MindsinMotion column: End the rat race.