The public road and its parts
Know where the traffic code applies and what the parts of the road are called.
Section 1Where the traffic code applies
Three kinds of places
Official source · art. 1Dit reglement geldt voor het verkeer op de openbare weg en het gebruik ervan, door voetgangers, voertuigen, trek-, last- of rijdieren en vee.Open the full article on Justel
[L01_02_0.jpg] A petrol station is a public area that you may only enter if you have a reason, such as refuelling this motorcycle. You are not allowed to drive through it simply as a shortcut.
A public road is open to everyone without a reason: a street, bridge, tunnel or square. A public area is open only when you have business there, so you cannot use it as a shortcut. A non-public area is private: you may only drive there with permission or a special licence.
Examplea street is a public road, a petrol station or restaurant car park is a public area, a factory yard or driving-school practice ground is non-public.
Where the rules and fines apply
Official source · art. 1Dit reglement geldt voor het verkeer op de openbare weg en het gebruik ervan, door voetgangers, voertuigen, trek-, last- of rijdieren en vee.Open the full article on JustelThe traffic code and its normal fines apply on public roads. Elsewhere you are still not free to do what you like: drink-driving, an accident with injuries or driving without a licence can also be punished on public and private areas.
Private road
Official source · art. 1Dit reglement geldt voor het verkeer op de openbare weg en het gebruik ervan, door voetgangers, voertuigen, trek-, last- of rijdieren en vee.Open the full article on JustelA road with a 'private property' sign is not a public road, so the traffic code does not apply there. It does apply if the owner lets everyone use the road.
Private road plateSection 2Parts of the public road
More than the tarmac
Official source · art. 2.1 · last amended 2024-02-01" Rijbaan ", het deel van de openbare weg dat voor het voertuigenverkeer in het algemeen is ingericht.Open the full article on Justel
[L01_07_0.jpg] The blue part is the carriageway. The yellow parts on both sides (cycle paths, grass verges and footpaths) are also part of the public road.
The public road includes the cycle lane, verge, raised verge, central reservation and pavement.
The carriageway
Official source · art. 2.1 · last amended 2024-02-01" Rijbaan ", het deel van de openbare weg dat voor het voertuigenverkeer in het algemeen is ingericht.Open the full article on Justel
[L01_08_0.jpg] The blue area is the carriageway, the hard surface of the public road made for vehicles. The yellow arrow measures it from kerb to kerb.
The carriageway is only the hard surface for vehicles: cars, buses, mopeds, farm vehicles. Cyclists use it when there is no cycle lane. A road can have two carriageways split by grass or a barrier, as on motorways.
White line along the edge
Official source · art. 75.1.1° · last amended 2022-10-01Een witte doorlopende streep mag op de werkelijke rand van de rijbaan, op een trottoirband of op de boordsteen van een verhoogde berm aangebracht worden om deze beter zichtbaar te maken.Open the full article on Justel
[L01_09_0.jpg] The continuous white line along the road edge (highlighted in yellow) marks where the carriageway ends. It shows the edge of the carriageway and has no other legal meaning.
A solid white line at the edge only shows where the carriageway ends. It has no other meaning.
Section 3Central lane and side lanes
Central lane
Official source · art. 15.3 · last amended 2022-10-01Open the full article on JustelOfficial source · art. 9.1.2 · last amended 2022-10-01de fietsers van minder dan 10 jaar mogen in alle omstandigheden de trottoirs en de verhoogde bermen volgen.Open the full article on Justel
[L01_12_0.jpg] On a central carriageway, drive in the middle between the paired dashed lines. You may only move onto the side strips temporarily when passing oncoming traffic.
On some narrow roads two parallel broken white lines on each side (each made of two pairs of short dashes) keep cars in the middle. The middle strip is the central lane, for cars. The side strips are side lanes.
Side lanes are not for cars
Official source · art. 9.1.1 · last amended 2022-10-01Wanneer de openbare weg een rijbaan omvat moeten de bestuurders deze rijbaan volgen.Open the full article on JustelOfficial source · art. 9.1.2 · last amended 2022-10-01de fietsers van minder dan 10 jaar mogen in alle omstandigheden de trottoirs en de verhoogde bermen volgen.Open the full article on JustelOfficial source · art. 15.3 · last amended 2022-10-01Open the full article on Justel[anim:central-road] A central road
A side lane is not part of the carriageway. Do not drive on it, except to cross an oncoming vehicle or to overtake when the central lane is too narrow, and only without endangering anyone there. Parking is forbidden on the central lane and on the side lanes.
Who uses the side lanes
Official source · art. 9.1.2.4° · last amended 2022-10-01Op voorwaarde rechts in de rijrichting te rijden en voorrang te verlenen aan de voetgangers die zich op dit deel van de openbare weg bevinden, mogen bestuurders van rijwielen, bromfietsen klasse A, speed pedelecs, niet ingespannen trekdieren, last- of rijdieren of vee de zijdelingse strook volgen.Open the full article on JustelCyclists, speed pedelecs, class A mopeds, animals, and pedestrians walking on the left side.
Signs in this lesson
Dead end
Dead end, except cyclists and pedestrians
Opening or swing bridge ahead
Road ends at a quay or riverbank
Other danger, plate says whichTest yourself
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