Abstract
Developments in traffic in rural areas are having important consequences. Dairy vehicles with axle loads of up to 17 tonnes, harvesters, etc. cause much damage to the roads. Traffic densities have also increased because of the motorisation and rat run traffic avoiding bottle necks in the main road network. The authors give a programme of interviews and counts carried out in rural areas throughout the Netherlands producing data which have been used in a simulation model. A short description of the model is also given.