Dutch government cuts speed limit to 100km/h to reduce air pollution

Netherlands takes 'rotten measure' of reducing 130km/h limit to protect nature reserves

The Dutch prime minister, Mark Rutte, has taken what he has described as the "rotten measure" of cutting the maximum speed limit on roads in the Netherlands to 100km/h (62mph) after being ordered by the courts to cut pollution.

The reduction from the current limit of 130km/h followed a Dutch court ruling earlier this year that found government policies breached EU rules in regard to the protection of nature reserves from ammonia and nitrous oxide.