Rijwind

Rijwind is a term used in Dutch-language road safety literature to describe wind conditions that interact with moving vehicles on roads. It encompasses crosswinds, gusts, and wind shear that can affect vehicle stability, particularly for high‑profile vehicles such as vans, trucks, caravans, and motorcycles. The term is informal and not codified in the standard meteorological taxonomy, but is common in driver manuals and traffic advisories in the Netherlands and Flanders.

The word rijwind combines rij, meaning to drive or ride, and wind, meaning wind. It conveys wind experienced while in motion.

Rijwind can arise from natural weather patterns, such as passing fronts, convective gusts, or wind from open water or large exposed areas. It is also influenced by terrain and urban structures, which create wind tunnels and eddies. The flow around a moving vehicle and the wake of nearby vehicles contribute to the perceived rijwind for the driver.

Rijwind can reduce lane-keeping ability and increase lateral tire load, leading to instability on high winds. It can affect braking distances and steering response, especially at high speeds or in crosswinds. Meteorological stations and road weather information services sometimes provide crosswind advisories; some vehicles rely on ADAS to detect and compensate for crosswinds.

Drivers should adapt speed and keep a firm grip on the steering wheel in windy conditions; cargo should be properly secured; road designers may use windbreaks and sheltered lanes to mitigate extreme rijwind exposure on vulnerable routes.

See also: Crosswind, wind gust, vehicle stability, aerodynamic wake.